Chapter Twenty Seven.
A few minutes later Mr Brymer joined us, rubbing his hands.
“We shall almost have a calm in an hour, gentlemen,” he said, “and smooth water, with nothing but a long heavy swell before night. I think we may all congratulate ourselves upon what we have done, for we’ve saved the ship.”
“Not yet,” said Mr Frewen, pointing at the fore-castle-hatch.
“No, not yet, doctor; but we’ve only one enemy to deal with now, and can devote all our attention to him. I think I can relieve two of you gentlemen now. Mr Frewen, will you fight out another hour or two, while these gentlemen go and change, and have an hour or two’s sleep?”
“I’ll go and change,” said Mr Denning; “but no sleep to-day.”
“Please yourselves, gentlemen; but you must have rest, and be in readiness for a call. Hah! that’s grand; what should we do without the sun?”
For as he was speaking, a bright gleam suddenly shot almost level across the spray, which still flew over the waves, and made it flash like a rainbow. It did more, for it sent light and joy into our breasts as Mr Preddle and Mr Denning went aft, meeting Bob Hampton with some boards, a saw, hammer, and nails with which he was soon busily at work strengthening the sides and top of the hatch, nailing down board after board, and only leaving one small opening in case communication should be needed with the prisoners below, who, saving for the light filtering through a small sky-light, and also through the ventilator, were in the dark.