hem....

But there was always the chance to fear that Mark might come down. He
could not wait too long....

He could hear feet moving on the deck above his head. The _Nathan Ross_
had run into rougher weather with her change of course; the wind was
stiffening, and now and then a whisk of spray came aboard. He heard Jim
Finch's bellowing commands.... Heard Mark's laughter. Mark and Jim were
astern, fairly over his head.

There were men in the main cabin. The scrape of their feet, the murmur of
their voices came to him. Dick Morrell and old Hooper, perhaps....

It was through these men that Joel's moment came. Finch, on deck, shouted
down to them.... Mark had decided to shorten sail, ease the strain on the
old masts. Joel heard Morrell and Hooper go up to the deck....

That would mean most of the men aloft.... The decks would be fairly
clear. His chance....

He wished he could know where Varde sat; but he could not be sure of
that, and he could not wait to guess by listening. He caught up a blanket
from his bunk, held it open in his hands, drew back--and threw himself
against the cabin door.

It opened so easily that he overbalanced, all but fell. The screws had
been set in punch holes so large that the threads scarce took hold at
all. Joel stumbled out--saw Varde on the cushioned bench which ran across
the stern. The mate was reading, a book from Joel's narrow shelf. At
sight of Joel, he was for an instant paralyzed with surprise....

That instant was long enough for Joel. He swept the blanket down upon the
man, smothering his cries with fold on fold; and he grappled Varde, and
crushed him, and beat at his head with his fists until the mate's
spasmodic struggles slackened. Priss had heard the sounds of combat,
swept out of her cabin, bent above them. He looked up and saw her; and he
said quietly:

"Get back into your place."

She cried pitifully: "I want to help. Please...."

He shook his head. "This is my task. Quick."

She fled....

He lifted Varde and carried him back to the cabin where he himself had
been captive; and there, with the cords that had bound his own arms, he
bound Varde, wrist and ankle; and he stripped away the blanket, and
stuffed into Varde's mouth a heavy, woolen sock, and tied it there with a
handkerchief.... Varde's eyes flickered open at the last; and Joel said
to him:

"I must leave you here for the present. You will do well to lie quietly."

He left the man lying on the floor,