Then my voice came back with the power to speak, and in a quick whisper I said, as I felt that in another instant I should fall into the sea—
“Mr Frewen!—help!”
There was a quick ejaculation, and the sound of something dropped into the water; but at the same moment I felt my jacket seized by two strong hands, and I was drawn close in to the stern of the ship, and held there fast.
Then from overhead came in Jarette’s voice—
“A lantern here, quick!”
Directly after, as I still held on to the line, and felt some one’s hot breath against my cheek, there was a glow of light overhead, and Jarette cried—
“Here, cut this line.”
Then the rope jarred heavily and was jerked. The next instant it gave way, and the strain I had maintained upon it was gone. I felt myself drop, but it was only an inch or two, for I was held tightly and drawn right into the cabin, where I crouched, listening to the altercation above my head, every word coming plainly to my ears and those of Mr Frewen, for of course it was he who had seized me.
Jarette was raging furiously at some one, whom he was accusing of helping the prisoners to escape.
Bob Hampton was the some one, for we heard him defending himself loudly.