The Lieutenant must have kept his stock of wine within." I durst not venture bearing the thing farther, fearful lest we might run afoul of others of the guard who would prove more suspicious than this honest fellow, besides, all my hasty plan of escape hung now upon the faith retained, that the half-open cuddy door had direct communication with the provisions stored below.

Surely they could never be loaded and unloaded by means of the distant hatch-ladder.

So dull and unintelligent in the dim light appeared the face of the fellow opposite, as we strained forward beneath the weight of the chest, I ventured upon a question.
"How does the cook get out all that provender from here ?" "I know not, senor _padre_; but I think there will be opening from the store-room to the upper deck.

They were at work there yesterday while I was on guard." By good fortune the room sought was only three doors down the passageway.

As it was, my forehead was wet with perspiration for fear De Noyan would lose what little stock of patience he possessed before we reached there, or that the Spaniard would begin to wonder at the surprising weight.