on the starboard side of the forecastle, the
_Ouzel Galley's_ people on the larboard side; Gerald was thus easily
able to find his friends. He had previously made all the arrangements
with Dan and Pompey--they had communicated them to the rest of the crew,
who only waited his arrival to carry them out. Gerald and Dan had
undertaken to get possession of the Frenchmen's pistols. It was the
most perilous part of the work to be performed, for should they be
awakened they might give the alarm, and put the watch on deck on their
guard. Both Dan and the black had noted accurately the places where the
Frenchmen had put their weapons, who, instead of depositing the pistols
under their pillows, had hung them up just above their heads, within
reach of their hands, while their cutlasses lay by their sides. To
remove the latter might be difficult without making a noise, and it was,
besides, considered of less importance to get hold of them. Stealing
silently across the fore-peak, Gerald and Dan reached one of the bunks;
Dan then leaning over, felt for the occupant's pistol, which he
carefully unhooked and handed to Gerald, who, almost breathless with
eagerness, grasped it tightly. They then went to the next berth, and
possessed themselves of the other weapons in the same manner. The third
man turned as they approached, and uttered a few incoherent words; Dan
and Gerald crouched down out of sight lest he should awake, but a loud
snore showed them that there was no great fear of his doing that, and
his pistols were successfully abstracted. The fourth man seemed
restless, and at length raised himself on his shoulder, and looked out.

"Qui va la?" he asked in French. Gerald and Dan were standing in deep
shade, and remained still as mice, scarcely daring to breathe. The
Frenchman, seeing no one, must have thought that he had been dreaming,
and again lying down composed himself to sleep. They waited till they
heard him also begin to snore, and Dan then crept forward and got hold
of his pistols. They each took one, and gave the remainder to their
shipmates. Tim was then sent up, furnished with a piece of line, with
directions to conceal himself close to the hatchway, down which he was
to let the line hang, and his pulling it up was to be the signal that
the Frenchmen were off their guard. On feeling it pulled all the party
below were to spring up on deck and overpower the crew forward. Gerald
accompanied by Dan and Pompey we