th me: we must unship the ladder, and pull it up on deck,
and then put on the grating; after that we must take our chance: we may
succeed, and we may not--all depends upon their not waking too soon."

We went to the hatchway, cut the cleat-lashings, hauled the ladder on
deck, and then put on the grating.

"That will do, Tom, for the present. Now do you take the helm, with a
crowbar all ready by your side. I will go forward and cut the cable: if
those fellows rouse up while I am forward, you must do your best. I
leave you, Tom, because you are more powerful than I am."

"I'll manage them both, never fear," whispered I.

"When she swings, mind you put the helm a-starboard, Tom," said Bramble
in my ear.

This was the most nervous part of the whole transaction: the men abaft
might wake, and I should have to master them how I could--and even if I
did, the scuffle might awake those below, who were not yet secured;
although, for a time, it would be difficult for them to get on deck.
But fortune favoured us: the cable was severed, the ship swung round,
and Bramble returned aft, and took the helm.

"Now is the time to see if I'm a pilot or not, Tom," said he. "I think
I can steer her through by compass, now that it's nearly high water--
luck's all." It was fortunate that we got the staysail hoisted for us,
or we could have made nothing of it.

"It's clearing up fast," said I, as I kept my eyes upon where the men
were lying abaft; "and there'll be plenty of wind."

"Yes, and we'll have daylight soon. Tom, I don't want you: I should
like you to step aft, and stand over those two chaps; if they wake,
knock them senseless--don't kill them, as you can easily bind them while
they are stupefied. And, Tom, look about you for some seizings all
ready. I wish they would wake, for we are not safe while they are not
secure. Put a handspike by me, and, if necessary, I will leave the helm
for a minute, and help you: it's better that she should go on shore than
they should master us. We're pretty safe now, at all events: I see the
land--all's right."

It was now daylight. After this whispering with Bramble, I went aft
with a handspike in my hand; and I had not been there more than two
minutes when one of the privateer's-men turned the canvas on one side,
and looked up. The handspike came down upon his head, and he dropped
senseless; but the noise roused up the other, and I dealt him a blow
more severe than the first. I th