Glancing toward the bow, she puckered her brow. Her thoughts were on the cipher-key. It was in the hands of Dutch Gus. He well knew its value. He had followed her from Holland to London and from
London back to Holland in the quest. There seemed no way to get him out of the cabin before the ship put into port.
Fay dropped his heel to the deck. They were out of ear-shot of the steward and the deck-hand who were standing guard over the remarkable passenger.
“I’ve a plan,� she said with the brevity of a man.
“What—is it?â€�
“Set the ship on fire and get him when he comes out.�
Fay glanced at her in admiration. “Good!â€� he said. “Good idea, but—â€�
“But what?�
He turned and studied the sea. A fog draped the lowlands. Beyond, rocks and hills rose. A ridge followed the coast line. The wind was from the north and west. Sailing craft dotted the ocean.
“If we burn this boat,â€� he said to her. “If we do—and I can do it—we might burn him with the cipher-key. He couldn’t get out of the cabin soon enough. This ship’s loaded with inflammable crates.â€�