But the greater part of my attention was taken up by the lights dimly visible on board the ship, where I tried to picture what was going on in the cabin where Mr Denning and his sister were prisoned. Jarette would, I know, have taken possession of the guns, but without doubt Mr Denning would have kept the little revolver which I knew he wore hidden about his person. And, what was more, I knew that he had the stern courage to use it if put to the test, in spite of his weakness. "And if he does use it," I thought, "it could only be against Jarette." "If he does," I said half-aloud, "what a change in the state of affairs it would produce!" "What yer talking about, Mr Dale?" said Dumlow, who was nearest to me of those forward; "not asleep, are you?" "Asleep!--who could go to sleep at a time like this?" "Ah, it's hard lines, sir," said Barney Blane, joining. "Such a pity, too, just as we'd found a way of getting along over the cargo! Next thing would have been as we should have took the ship." "And we'll do that yet somehow, Barney," I whispered, for I felt in my heart that Mr Frewen would not rest till some desperate effort had been made to save Mr and Miss Denning. Barney said he hoped we should, if it was only to give him one chance at Jarette. "One charnsh," growled Dumlow, whose voice sounded as if he were very sore indeed. "I on'y want half a charnsh, my lad; that'll be enough for me. I don't brag, but on'y give me half a charnsh, I don't care if he's all pistols. I says on'y give me half a charnsh, and the side of the ship close by--" "What'll you do?--chuck him overboard, mate?" "Ay, that I will, just as if he were a mad cat, and that's about what he is. Just think of it, our getting that dose as the doctor meant for him. I can't get over it, and that's a fact." The night passed slowly by--so slowly that I felt we must have been roused up quite early, and directly after we had gone to sleep. But at last the golden clouds began to appear high up in the sky, then it was all flecked with orange and gold, and directly after the great sun rolled slowly up over the ruddy water, lighting the ship where she lay not a quarter of a mile off, till the whole of her rigging looked as if the ropes were of brass, and the sails so many sheets of ruddy gold. To us it seemed to give life as well as light, and instead of feeling despairing, and as if all was over, the brightness of that morning made me look eagerly at the ship, and ask myself whether the time had not come for us to make our dash and secure it. For I could not see a soul visible at first, not even a man at the wheel. Then my heart gave a throb, for I could see a white face framed in the little opening of one of the cabin-windows. "It's Miss Denning," I said to myself, and I waved my hand, and then felt for a handkerchief to wave that. But I had none, though it did not matter, for my signal had been seen, and a white handkerchief was waved in response.