I rolled out of my blankets and crept noiselessly after him in my stocking feet.

He had armed himself with a draw-knife from the tool-locker, and with this he prepared to cut across the throat-halyards I had again rigged to the shears.

He felt the halyards with his hands and discovered that I had not made them fast.
This would not do for a draw-knife, so he laid hold of the running part, hove taut, and made fast.

Then he prepared to saw across with the draw-knife.
"I wouldn't, if I were you," I said quietly.
He heard the click of my pistol and laughed.
"Hello, Hump," he said.

"I knew you were here all the time.