It was plain that the captain of the brig knew nothing of the real plans of the conspirators. They had told him what they pleased, and he was to ask no questions.
It was not long, however, before the stowaway discovered something which was quite a surprise to him. There was a woman on board the brig; he heard the rustle of her garments, and occasionally the tones of a female voice.
At first he thought her to be the captain’s wife, but because of the youthfulness of her tones and some words which the captain addressed to her, he changed this opinion, and decided that she was his daughter.
Brandon was quite interested in her, for a girl on a sailing vessel was certainly a novelty. He was sure she must be a “jolly one,” as he expressed it, to sail with her father on a merchantman. Not many girls would have the pluck to do that.
As the days passed by, and the Success fled on before the favoring gales, drawing nearer and nearer to Savannah, Brandon became correspondingly worried over the obstructions to a safe escape from the brig, which were presented to his mind.
Once the brig reached port and the hatches were opened, it would be “all day” with him. Nothing but a miracle would save him from falling into the hands of Jim Leroyd, and he didn’t like to think of that.
He had good reason to believe that the rascally sailor would not hesitate to injure him in any way possible.
Naturally his mind reverted to the trap in the cabin bulkhead by which Swivel had gained access to the cook’s galley, as a possible means of escape before the hatches were removed. If the brig reached Savannah late in the day, doubtless the hatches would remain battened down till the next morning. In that case the trap might be his salvation.
Several times during the voyage the steward, sometimes with a seaman with him, entered the hold by this door, for something among the stores. At such times Brandon “laid low” and his presence was not discovered.
What little food he had purloined from the stores was not noticed either.