inside of ten minutes both of us were free, so far as our bonds were concerned.
The hold was about three-quarters filled with merchandise, boxes, barrels, and bags. Crawling over these, we made a tour of inspection lasting a couple of hours. Out of curiosity we broke open several small boxes that felt as though they might contain canned goods, and came upon a can of green corn and another of spiced meats. Without ceremony we broke open the cans and ate our fill.
"He shan't keep us on bread and water at this rate," I smiled. "Now I know why he had us bound. He was afraid we would rummage around here and do as we have done."
"If we could only find some door out of the hold, Mark. There ought to be such an opening."
"That is true, at the stern end. Let us crawl in that direction."
There were a great number of barrels in the way and the journey took us some time, for the Viscount was pitching heavily on the swells of the Pacific Ocean.
Arriving at the stern end of the hold, we found a door, but it was closed and bolted, and several heavy barrels were wedged up against it.
"No escape in that direction," said Oliver grimly.
