"Quick!" said Loo; "lift me up to the window."
"Listen!" said Raiden, in a low voice. "As soon as you get in, you are to feel along the wall, and count five planks down, straight under the opening. The sixth you will push; but as soon as you feel it yield to your hand, you must stop, and hurry back. If you push it entirely out, the water, pouring into the hold, will drown you."
"All right!" said the boy.
Nata stood leaning his back against the junk.
"You are not afraid, Loo?" said the Prince.
Loo, without a word, shook his head. He was already upon Nata's shoulders, and clinging to the edge of the port-hole with both hands. Soon he thrust in his head and shoulders; then his legs followed, and he was lost to sight.
"It must be even darker in there than out here," said Nata, who had his ear close to the ship's side.
They waited. The time seemed to them long; their anxiety made them motionless. At last a cracking noise was heard. Raiden felt the plank move. A second push made it start from its place.
"Enough! enough! or you are lost!" said Raiden, not daring to raise his voice.
But the child heard nothing; he continued to use his clenched fists with all his strength. Soon the plank fell, and floated off upon the waves. At the same time, with a roar, the water streamed into the ship.