If he was allowed his liberty, he might find some avenue of escape open.

It was useless to groan over his fate, and he did not groan; but he had come to the conclusion that it would be a long time before he took possession of his stateroom in the ward room of the Bellevite.
Availing himself of the permission given to him, he went into the room, and turned in with his clothes on, so that he might be in readiness for any event.

Mr.Gilfleur would miss him at the rendezvous agreed upon; but he would have no means of knowing that anything had happened to him.
Tired as he was, he was not inclined to sleep.

Presently he heard a conversation which was not intended for his ears, for it was carried on in very low tones.
"Do you know, Captain Flanger, that I believe we are getting into a very bad scrape ?" said Percy Pierson in a subdued tone.
"What are you afraid of ?" demanded the captain, in a voice hardly above a whisper.
"My father refused at first to permit the capture of Passford," added Percy.

"He would consent to it only after you had promised to treat him well." "I am treating him as well as I know how, though it goes against my grain.