“‘Good-night,’ said Brackenbury.
“‘Umph!’ grunted O’Brady, for he was all but asleep already.
“‘Hark!’ cried Brackenbury, a few minutes after. ‘Are you asleep, O’Brady?’
“‘No, I’m listening. Hush!’
“Had anyone come into the apartment with a light just then, they would have seen both men sitting bolt upright in bed, with not only their eyes, but even their mouths open.
“‘I heard footsteps in the passage,’ hissed Brackenbury; ‘they surely can’t be going to hang us to-night!’
“His voice was somewhat shaky.
“‘Hang us! no! Nonsense, Brackenbury! Dolosa knows much better than to hang us. You’re not afraid, are you?’
“‘Hark!’ was the reply; ‘but now I heard a whisper. It seems in the room. Sure you locked the door? You see, O’Brady, that with a sword in my hand, in daylight, and with my foot on my own quarter-deck, I’m fit for anything. But I’m not a rat, jigger me if I am. I believe Dolosa would do anything. Now those monster niggers of his, what would hinder half a dozen of them from smothering us, time about, with a feather-bed? Ugh! fancy a feather-bed on top of you, and half a dozen hulking black murderers on top o’ that. Ugh, I say!’
“The sound of whispering and of footsteps had ceased, but both officers still sat up, straining their ears.