“Sleep? No; nor you. It is far too rough for that. Think this is a good seaworthy ship, Mr Frewen?”
“I think so. I hope so,” he replied. “The owners stand high for their character. I wish the crew were as good as the ship. Dale, do you think we might break out to-night? We could do it without being heard; I am sure that I could saw round the lock of the door.”
“But Bob Hampton and the others would not be ready for us, and we should not have their help,” I protested.
“But this seems such a chance, my lad, with all that noise, and I want to be clear in case of accidents.”
“Hist!”
“What is it?”
“Something tapped at the cabin-window.”
I ran to it, and began to unscrew the fastening, for it was closed tightly to keep out the spray, since more than once a great wave had struck against it with a heavy thud that evening, and we did not want a wet cabin to add to our other miseries.
I swung open the round iron frame, and gazed at the furious sea, all covered with its white foam, but there was nothing visible for a time. Then all at once something swung by as the ship rose after careening over and literally rolling in the hollow between two great waves.
It was momentary, and like a faint shadow, but directly after, with the swing as of some great pendulum, it passed by again.