"Hello in there!" Benson cried out; and I said gruffly:-- "Well, what do you want?" "It's well to let you know that I'm around. Your ship is ready to leave port in the morning, and forty-eight hours later you two duffers will be getting an idea of whale fishing." "Which will be better than staying here forced to listen to the voice of a cur like you!" Phil replied. "That little show of temper will cost you your supper," Benson cried in a rage. "I'll starve you into submission, if you turn rusty, so have a care." "I reckon you've lost your temper because of not finding any more fools among the crew of the _Essex_!" "I don't keep all my birds in one cage." "But you've got all from the _Essex_ in this one, and we two make up the list," Phil cried with a laugh, for he was finding considerable sport in thus baiting the villain. "Better keep a quiet tongue in your head," I whispered, "otherwise he might come inside and see what we've been doing." "I only wish he would!" and Phil flourished his knife in a manner which told what he would do if our enemy should be so indiscreet as to come within striking distance. Benson stalked to and fro in the hallway when we ceased to reply to his jibes, and after half an hour or more we heard him descending the stairs again. Then, by gazing through the bars, we could see that he had gone into the enclosure,--most likely to make certain everything was as he had left it; and we listened to the noise of his movements until all was silent once more. "He's gone out in the hope of catching such of our men as have overstayed their shore leave," Phil whispered. "Now is our time to begin work with the rope." I insisted that we wait ten minutes longer, to make it more certain the scoundrel had left the building, and then we began the task which I confidently expected would result in our release. The rope was made fast as before, and we two laid hold of it with a will; but haul and pull as we would, the bars remained firmly in place. That one which we had started during the afternoon was immovable, and the perspiration was running down our faces in tiny streams before we were ready to admit that the plan was a failure. "He'll work his will with us," Phil said with a sob as we ceased our efforts and stood facing each other in the darkness. "We can't get out!" "Don't lose your courage so soon. We can work at the mortar all day to-morrow, and then I'm certain the bars will yield." "By that time the _Essex_ will have left port." "Other American vessels put in here, and surely we can work our way home without being forced to serve on board a whaler. Besides, the _Essex_ is likely to visit this port more than once before her work in the Pacific is concluded." Phil would not be soothed, and he turned from me impatiently just as I fancied a low whistle sounded outside, near the garden wall.