"Might be handy," admitted Denbigh, secretly glad to have a companion for his enterprise. "But there's something you have which will be, I fancy, a jolly sight more handy."
"What's that?" asked O'Hara.
"The quinine the Pelikan's medico gave you. Our chief danger is, I fancy, the chance of getting miasmic fever, especially after landing in saturated togs. A few grains will stave off a fatal illness."
"All right," agreed O'Hara. "Then it's settled I'm to go with you. What's your plan?"
"Nothing more than I have outlined," replied Denbigh. "We'll keep our eyes and ears open and see what steps the Pelikan is taking for defence. There'll be enough moonlight to see fairly clearly."
"Suppose you wouldn't like me to go with you?" enquired the mate.
Denbigh shook his head.
"No, thanks, Armstrong; you'll serve a far better purpose by remaining on board and screening our movements. Those fellows have set an anchor watch, I suppose?"
"Only on the fo'c'sle," replied Armstrong. "That is to say, they hadn't put a man on watch over the stern cable when I left the deck. But there's no knowing. They imagine that they are safe from attack. I suppose they are so long as the Pelikan remains afloat, so it's just likely that they'll be a bit lax. How do you propose to take the water?"
"By the stern cable," replied Denbigh.