"In this way I shall be suspended in the water," said he; and he slid silently over the side of the boat. For more than an hour he worked in the darkness, without uttering a single word; and as his hands moved beneath the water, he made no noise. Nothing was audible save the monotonous tread of the sentinel and the dash of the waves against the ship.
"Pass me the saki," said Raiden at last; "I am cold."
"It is my turn to work," said Nata. "Get into the boat again."
"It is done," said Raiden. "I have taken out the nails all round a plank as long as our boat, and as broad as Nata is from shoulder to shoulder."
"Then you have fully succeeded," said the Prince.
"Not yet; the most difficult part remains. The plank is dovetailed, into its two neighbors, and affords no hold by which I can pull it out."
"Try to slip your tool into the crack."
"I have been trying, but in vain," said Raiden; "the plank must be pushed from the inside."
"That cannot be done," said Nagato.
Raiden raised his head; he looked at the ship's hull.