He searched the hold first, expecting that Nicky would naturally plant his explosives there. That indeed was his scheme, but Mamise had found among her tumbled wits one little idea only, and that was to delay Nicky as long as possible.
She suggested to him that before he began to lay his train of wires he ought to get a general view of the string of ships. The best point was the top deck, where they were just about to hoist the enormous rudder to the stern-post.
Nicky accepted the suggestion, and Mamise guided him through the labyrinth. They had met Jake at the base of the falsework, and he came along, leaving his bundle. Nicky carried his suit-case with him. He did not intend to be separated from it. Jake was always glad to be separated from work.
They made the climb, and Nicky’s artistic soul lingered to praise the beautiful day for the beautiful deed. In a frenzy of talk, Mamise explained to him what she could. She pointed to the great hatchway for the locomotives and told him:
“The ship would have been in the water now if it weren’t 315 for that big hatch. It set us––the company back ninety days.”
“And now the ship goes to be in the sky in about nine minutes. Come along once.”
“Look down here, how deep it is!” said Mamise, and led him to the edge. She was ready to thrust him into the pit, but he kept a firm grip on a rope, and she sighed with regret.
But Davidge, looking up from the depth of the well, saw Nicky and Mamise peering over the edge. His face vanished.
“Who iss?” said Nicky. “Somebody is below dere. Who iss?”
Mamise said she did not know, and Jake had not seen.