then he comes up, to see what I'm
doing. But no matter; now that you're here we can make a break. You've
still got your crowbar; they took mine away. I've only had my flash to
work with."

In spite of his awful experience and intolerable predicament, Ken was
getting drowsy. He had been through much; he had been short on sleep
when he had started out. Nevertheless, he forced himself to consider
their situation. Since the blubber-men had kept Chan Beddoes a prisoner,
they would no doubt keep him one likewise. It did not mean immediate
death from suffocation, for there was air of a kind here; and food was
brought. But--imprisonment!

All around him was damp darkness; the rocks they lay on were jagged and
slime coated all over and there were little pools of water here and
there. Gloom; awful water beneath; slimy rocks to lie on; raw whale meat
to eat; stench of rotting fish. Imprisonment! Weeks of this! Suddenly he
felt deep admiration for Beddoes in having clung to sanity so long.

"Yes," he said slowly, "we've got to get out. But with that guard on
duty.... What's your plan?"

The other coughed long, then began:

"It all depends on whether they've moved my torpoon from the trap where
it stuck. You didn't see it anywhere? Well, it's got to be still in the
trap, and we've got to get to it. It'll carry both of us. The whale that
led me into the trap is dead, and we can finish prying the torp loose
with your crowbar."

Ken nodded. "But the guard?"

Chanley Beddoes said harshly: "I'm going to kill it!"

Ken looked at him. His pale, drawn face was contorted; his hands
clenched and unclenched. He repeated:

"Yes, kill it! I've a score to settle with these devils, anyway. I'll
take him unawares. One blow'll do it, if it's placed right. Then, down
the corridor and to the trap. I think I remember the way."

Ken thought it out, and shook his head.

"What's the matter?" Beddoes asked.

"We'd better not," he said "Not yet. And never, if we can help it."

"Why not?" Beddoes cried in great surprise.

"Don't you see? They haven't really harmed us. They're friendly. Yes,
they've kept you prisoner and they'll keep me, too--but probably they
don't think that's any terrible hardship for us. And they don't realize
how much we want to get free."

"What will we do then?" Beddoes broke in impatiently.

"When I see the leader again I've got to get it over that we want to be
released. It's a better risk than killing this guard,