Then, after many moments, came a gleam of light into my mind. Benson's eyes were beginning to grow narrow; I saw his head droop on his bosom, and he roused up with a start, thus showing that slumber would be grateful to him. Then it was that a great hope looked in at my heart. If he should be overcome by slumber, it was not impossible that Phil and I might be able to creep up on him so far as to gain possession of the musket; and once that weapon was in our hands, we would give the villain a most pressing invitation to go with us to where he could have a second interview with Captain Porter. I watched him as a cat watches a mouse, literally holding my breath in suspense, and ready to take any chance, however desperate, when the opportunity should come. CHAPTER X. AMONG THE TYPEES. Then, when I was praying most fervently that sleep would overpower him, his head drooped lower and lower until I understood that the chains of slumber had bound him for a certain time at least. It was most unfortunate that Phil was also asleep. I tugged gently at his arm, not daring to make any movement which would result in the slightest noise; but without arousing him. Had his eyes been open as wide as were mine, I venture to say that without a peradventure we might have succeeded in gaining our freedom. As it was, however, it became necessary to awaken him, regardless of the possibility that Benson might take alarm, and I pressed my free hand over his mouth while I prodded him vigorously with my shoulder. Even such a violent effort as this failed of its purpose until after three or four precious moments had elapsed, and then he stared up into my face inquiringly:-- Softly as possible I whispered in his ear:-- "Benson is asleep; by leaping upon him suddenly we should be able to get the upper hands, bound though we are." Now he understood what I would have him do, and motioned that he was ready for any venture. Together we worked our way toward the sleeping Britisher. It is not to be supposed that we two, fettered as we were, could move without making some noise; but yet we advanced with reasonable stillness until arriving within two feet of Benson. It was my idea that we throw ourselves upon him, pinning the villain where he lay, with the chance that during the struggle one or the other of us lads might gain possession of the musket. There was no time to decide upon any combined course of action, for it would have been in the highest degree dangerous had we attempted to carry on a whispered conversation just then. We rose to our feet softly; but were hardly more than standing erect when Benson leaped up as if he had been watching from under his eyelids, and in a twinkling struck me down with the butt of his musket. Phil would most likely have been treated to the same kind of a dose; but, as a matter of course, he fell when I did, or, rather, was dragged down by me, and the Britisher stood over us with a grin of satisfaction.