"I'm afraid we're quite safe?"

"What, to escape?"

"No--to stop in prison; for I expect we shan't be able to get on deck."

"But we're going to try?"

"Yes," said Vince through his closely set teeth; "we're going to try."

CHAPTER THIRTY.

A BOLD DASH FOR FREEDOM.

As the boys lay perfectly still in their bunks, gradually growing
cooler, and feeling that even if they were over the part of the hold
used as a powder magazine there was nothing to fear so long as there was
no light near, they heard a step twice overhead, then all was perfectly
still but the faint rippling of the swift current as it passed under the
vessel and glided on across to the rocks.

They whispered to each other from time to time; Mike being impatient to
begin their attempt, but Vince always refusing till he felt satisfied
that all was still.

At last this feeling of satisfaction came, and, passing his legs out of
his bunk, he dropped lightly on to the floor to begin feeling about,
till his hand touched a rough hinge, and on the other side a ring which
lay down in the woodwork of a trap door.

But he did not say anything, only rose and pulled open the light again,
keeping it in that position by passing the leather strap which formed
its handle over a hook in the ceiling, a slit having been cut in the
piece of leather.

"Now, Ladle," whispered Vince, "come and kneel here, then I can stand on
your back."

Mike obeyed at once, and then whispered quickly,--

"Vince, there is a trap door here: I'm right on it."

"I know,--I touched it; but there's no candle. Ready?"

"Yes."

Vince took hold of the opening frame, which was only just big enough for
him to pass through, stepped lightly on to his companion as he stiffened
himself on all fours, and then began to creep out.

For a few moments he hesitated, for there was the black water beneath
him, full of sparks, gliding rapidly along, so brightly that he felt
that if any one were on deck looking over the bulwark he must be seen;
but the thought of freedom and those at home nerved him, and as soon as
he was in a sitting position, with his legs inside, he bent down and
whispered to his companion, who had risen,--

"Take tight hold of my legs till I give a jerk, which means let me
loose."

Mike seized the legs firmly; and, thus secured, Vince stretched out his
arms and began to feel about overhead, to find that the top of the light
was just below the projecting streak, which runs,