"All right now?" he whispered exultingly. She looked at him, an enigmatic smile on her veiled face, and touched his knee. His tone was triumphant. He imagined he was doing all this, and she continued to smile.
"Ah, yes!" she breathed. "Always all right, with you."
He pressed her hand to his lips. She let him do this.
"The ship?" she said gently.
"Soon," he said. "We must be careful. Tired?"
"A little. Where is the ship?"
"That is her light. We go this way—keep out of sight."
"How long?"
"Soon, soon."
She became trustful as they turned and made for the ship. Plouff, stifling his desire to proclaim his incomparable efficiency, brought up imperceptibly against the grating and, stepping out, crept intelligently up the ladder to make sure of the watchman. That person was, as Plouff expected, drowsing comfortably over the galley fire. He tiptoed to the bulwarks and whispered: