"Who?"
"Palmer, the steward."
"Good!"
"As soon as all hands in the cabin have turned in, he will loose me, and then we shall be ready for you. Are the men all right?"
"Every one of them."
"Now leave me, Jack. If you like, you can stay between decks till the steward comes, and then I will join you."
"All right, Phil."
Sanderson left me, and I was now thoroughly satisfied that the scheme would be a success; I did not see how it could fail. The mate evidently depended too much upon the instinctive subordination of sailors, and appeared to have taken no special precautions for the safety of the bark and his wicked project. The men had promised to do their duty, which he interpreted as one thing and they as another. The drinking of their grog was doubtless enough to convince him that the crew were converted to his scheme.
I heard three bells, and then four; but Palmer did not come, and I began to question whether I had not made a mistake in trusting him as far as I had. I was sorry that I had not permitted Sanderson to unfasten me, for then I might have availed myself of any chance that offered if the steward was faithless. But I wronged him again. Before five bells, he came with a lantern in one hand, and a couple of revolvers in the other. He carefully closed the door behind him as he entered, and laid the pistols in his berth.
"I was afraid you were not coming," I whispered; "but you are as true as steel."