"But we've got to be mighty careful just the same. If he sees us he'll know what we're up for and all the fat'll be in the fire," Bob declared.
"Think we'd better go one at a time?"
"No, we'll go together. Might's well both be caught as one."
"All right: just as you say."
They had slipped on trowsers and shirts but were in their bare feet as they opened the door and cautiously stepped outside. For an instant they stood still, close to the side of the cabin, and listened. There was no sound to indicate that the mate was near and they slowly crept along hugging the wall. It was so dark that they could see nothing at all until they reached the corner and looked out onto the forward deck. Here a single light slightly illuminated the forward part of the boat and Bob, who was in the lead, saw the tall form of the mate well up at the bow. He was sitting on a coil of rope and had his head in his hands.
"We might get by and then again we might not," Bob explained as he stepped back a pace.
"Better not take a chance," Jack whispered. "He won't sit there long."
But it was all of a half hour before the mate changed his position and the boys had about lost patience when Bob, who peeped around the corner every few minutes, whispered that he was standing up. Soon footsteps warned them that he was coming their way and they pressed as closely as possible against the side of the cabin and waited. He passed within a foot of them but, so intense was the darkness, he failed to see them. They waited another minute and then Bob whispered now, and in another moment they were up the stairs and safe, for the time, in the wheel house.
"So far so good," Bob chuckled.
They stretched themselves on the floor close to the partition which separated them from the wireless room and waited. There was little danger now of discovery, they thought, even should he come into the room unless he should turn on the light and they did not think he would be likely to do that.