"Of course," cried Mr Brymer. "I know it is a great deal to ask of you, my lad, and I would say, do not expose yourself to much risk. We should be, as you say, ready to pick you up." "I don't see why he shouldn't go," drawled Mr Preddle. "One boy stole the arms and ammunition away, so it only seems right that another boy should go and steal--no, I don't mean steal--get them back." "Will you go, Mr Preddle?" said the mate. "If you like. I'll do anything; but I'm afraid I couldn't climb on board, I'm so fat and heavy, and, oh dear! I'm afraid that all my poor fish are dead." At any other time I should have laughed, but our position was too grave for even a smile to come upon my face. Instead of feeling that Mr Preddle was an object to excite my mirth, I felt a sensation of pity for the pleasant, amiable gentleman, and thought how helpless he must feel. "You will have to go, Dale," said Mr Brymer. "Yes," said Mr Frewen; "Dale will go for all our sakes." "When shall he go?" said the mate; "to-morrow night, after we have thrown Jarette off his guard by sailing right away?" "It would not throw him off his guard," cried Mr Frewen, excitedly. "The man is too cunning. He would know that it was only a ruse, and be on the watch. Dale must go to-night--at once. Who knows what twenty-four hours may produce?" "Exactly," said Mr Preddle. "I quite agree with you," replied the mate; "but I did not wish to urge the lad to attempt so forlorn a hope without giving him a little time for plan and preparation." "I'm ready," I said, making an effort to feel brave as we sat there in the darkness. "I don't think I could do better if I thought till to-morrow night." "How would you manage?" said the mate. "I know," I said. "I'm not very strong, but if you made the boat drift under the ship's bows, I could catch hold of and swarm up the bob-stay easily enough. Nobody would see me, and if I got hold quickly, the boat could go on round to the stern, and if anybody was on the watch he would think you were trying to get to the Dennings' window." "Some one would be on the watch," said the mate; "and that some one would be Jarette." "And he would think as Dale says," exclaimed Mr Frewen, "that is certain." "Oh yes, I must go to-night," I said, with a bit of a shiver. "It would be so cruel to Miss Denning to keep her in suspense, and thinking we were not trying to help her." A hand touched my arm, glided down to my wrist, and then a warm palm pressed mine hard. "Then you shall go, Dale," said Mr Brymer, firmly. "Keep a good heart, my lad, for the darkness will protect you from Jarette's pistol, and you can recollect this, we shall be close at hand lying across the stern ready to row along either side of the ship if we hear a splash. That splash would of course be you leaping overboard, and you must remember to swim astern to meet the boat."