in the
intense stillness of the night, such a disturbance that Jim thought it
must be heard all over the town; but, although the boat rocked from side
to side under the strain, grinding her keel and bilges against the
chain, she remained immovably fixed; and Jim ordered the engines to be
stopped, feeling that so violent a disturbance of the water must
speedily lead to their detection.

Douglas's face became drawn, and his eyes took on a very strained look,
as he realised what it would mean if he could not get the _Janequeo_
off; the Peruvians would give very short shrift to a body of men who had
been caught in the attempt to torpedo their fleet. Moreover, he had
heard certain gruesome stories from the Chilian seamen to the effect
that some of the half-caste troops which the Peruvians had with them
were rather addicted to the pastime of torturing any prisoners who might
be unlucky enough to fall into their hands--a relic, undoubtedly, of the
customs of their Indian ancestors.

After the engines had been stopped, Jim called a hasty council of the
crew, consulting with them as to what was best to be done. They could
not possibly force the boat over the chain, because, even were the
engines powerful enough, the _Janequeo_ would break her back in the
process.

"If only we had a couple of good strong files we might manage even yet,"
whispered Douglas, leaning over the side and feeling at the chain. "The
links are not more than half an inch thick, and we could soon cut them.
Does anybody know whether there are any good stout files aboard?"

As he ceased speaking a man dived down through the tiny engine-room
hatch, and presently reappeared, bearing in his hands two large files.

"We have these, senor," he whispered excitedly to Jim; "they were
brought on board this morning from the _Blanco_, when I was doing some
repairs to the engines, and I forgot to take them back before we
started. How will they do?"

Douglas eagerly seized the tools and ran his thumb along the edges.
They were very rough and coarse, being hardly worn at all, and were just
what was wanted for the purpose. Given sufficient time, and immunity
from detection, the work of getting clear of the chain by filing it
through would be easy.

"That's the very thing, El Lobo," ejaculated Douglas in a low voice.
"Now, start on the job at once. Let one man cut the upper side of the
link, and one the lower, and we shall be free in next to no time. Who
will