"Let us work, then, and get these bags all arranged on the rim of the car, so that they may be thrown overboard at one movement."
"But this darkness?"
"It hides our preparations, and will be dispersed only when they are finished. Take care to have all our weapons close at hand. Perhaps we may have to fire; so we have one shot in the rifle; four for the two muskets; twelve in the two revolvers; or seventeen in all, which might be fired in a quarter of a minute. But perhaps we shall not have to resort to all this noisy work. Are you ready?"
"We're ready," responded Joe.
The sacks were placed as requested, and the arms were put in good order.
"Very good!" said the doctor. "Have an eye to every thing. Joe will see to throwing out the ballast, and d**k will carry off the prisoner; but let
