“Be careful,” he whispered, earnestly. “Don’t look up. Waters has his eyes on us. What have you found out?”
“That all our men are sorry for what they have done, and are ready to make amends for it. Bob doesn’t watch me as closely as Waters does you, and so I have had three or four chances to talk with them.”
“I wouldn’t trust them,” said Frank; and then he made some figures on a slip of paper and handed it over to Archie, who examined it with a great show of interest.
“I’ve found out another thing, too,” added Archie, shaking his head as he handed the paper back, as if to imply that his cousin’s calculations were not correct, “and that is, that Waters sleeps like a log. I was in the cabin three times last night, and the first time I came in I stumbled over him before I saw him and fell flat; but the noise I made never awoke him.”
“I know he sleeps soundly,” returned Frank. “Now, Archie, let me say”—
“And another thing,” interrupted Archie, earnestly, “there are two loaded revolvers in Uncle Dick’s bunk, under the foot of the mattress, that these fellows don’t know anything about. I was pretty certain they were there, so I went in last night and satisfied myself.”
“Let them stay there,” replied Frank. “They are of no use to us. Now, Archie, while I have the chance, I want to tell you that I shall make no attempt to take the vessel out of the hands of these scoundrels. As far as I am concerned, I am ready for anything; but if danger should befall you through me, what should I say to your father and mother when I get home? I am responsible for you, in a certain sense, and I wish with all my heart that you were safe ashore.”
“Do you take me for a little boy?” whispered Archie, almost indignantly. “I am almost as old as you are, and I want you to understand that I am able to take care of myself. You are not responsible for me in any way. You may be glad that I am here before this voyage is ended.”
“What you two fellows talking about down there?” demanded Waters. “Your heads are almost too close together to suit me. You had better come up here, my little man.”
“It is his watch below,” said Frank, “I belong on deck myself.”