Just then, however, Bessy, who had been struggling long and bravely with her assailant, uttered a series of piercing screams, freed herself from his grasp, and, half-mad with fear and horror, threw her arm round Hester. "Curse you, you noisy jade," cried the Cuban, furiously; and he struck her brutally across the mouth with the back of his hand as he released Hester, who sank shivering on the cabin floor. "Here, come away, now," cried the Cuban, sharply; and, thrusting his companion before him, he hurried out and secured the door, leaving the two prisoners sobbing in each other's arms, while the light through the holes in the door streamed in long rays above their heads. Hester was the first to recover herself, and she rose and tried to comfort her stricken companion, than whom now she seemed to be far the stronger in spirit. "Help must come soon, Bessy," she whispered. "They will have heard our screams." "It would be better to die," sobbed Bessy. "There is no hope--no hope whatever." "What!" cried Hester. "No hope? And with my brave, true husband on board? I tell you help will come, and soon." "When it is too late," sobbed Bessy. "Those wretches will soon be back." "Hush, listen," whispered Hester; and she stole to the door to peep through one of the holes, and see the drunken ruffian sitting there with his head down upon the table, apparently asleep. The Cuban had evidently gone on deck, and, nerved now to take some desperate course, Hester stole back to where Bessy crouched. "Get up--quickly," she whispered. "We must escape from the place now." "But where, where, unless overboard?" wailed Bessy. "To the deck--to the other cabin. They will fight for us. Dutch will save us from another such outrage as this." Bessy rose up directly, endeavoured to be firm, but she tottered, and had to cling to the slighter woman. They stood by the door while Hester tried it, but their hearts sank as they found that they were more of prisoners than they imagined, for the door was fastened on the outside, while to make their position more painful there were no means of securing it from within. All seemed very still; so still, in fact, that they could hear plainly the heavy breathing of the ruffian who was sleeping there alone; and as they stood trembling and listening it seemed as if a light step was coming down the cabin stairs. It came so cautiously and stealthily that they did not dare to move lest they should not hear it. For a moment Hester was tempted to change her position, and gaze through the door, but a slight clicking noise arrested her, and she remained listening and hopefully considering whether this could be some of the promised help. All was silent again for a time, and then there was another strange click, and something fell upon the floor, as if a sword had been knocked down.