I remained silent, staring out across the water, endeavoring to reconcile his statements, and wondering what message it was I had dropped into the deep.

“What are those lights off yonder?” I asked, at length, pointing.

“Shore lights.”

“Then we are steering east?”

“A bit south of east, yes; odd course for Honduras, you think?”

I nodded, willing enough to let him talk.

“We are playing the game safe, Craig; that’s all,” he explained, both hands gripping the rail.  “You see we cleared for Santiago, and are not anxious to be seen and reported by any west-bound ships.  We are keeping well to the north of their course now, and tomorrow will be hidden among the islands off the west Florida coast.  Then, as soon as it is dark, we will shoot out under full steam, into the Gulf.  The chances are we ’ll cross the lane unobserved; if we should intercept a liner, she won’t identify us in the dark, as we burn no lights.  By daylight we ’ll be well beyond their look-outs, and can steer a straight course.”

Vague as my memory was regarding the Gulf and its surrounding coast line, this explanation seemed reasonable enough, and I remained silent, gazing off across the water.  He did not speak again, yet the very proximity of the man irritated me, my dislike and distrust of him so deep rooted that I could scarcely bear his near presence.  I wanted to be alone, where I could think out some feasible scheme of escape.

“I have had enough for tonight,” I said finally, “and am going to turn in.”

“Best thing you can do,” he coincided, but without looking toward me.  “Will follow suit as soon as I smoke a cigarette.  See you tomorrow.”

I went down the companion stairs directly to my stateroom, not even glancing aside, feeling confident that he would be watching me from above.  I had every reason to believe I had won his confidence, that he counted me as already among those he controlled and commanded, yet he was not a man who would ever rise above suspicion, and his trust would always be limited.  Without lighting a lamp I lay down, still partially dressed, on my bunk, my mind busily occupied with desperate plans, none of them satisfactory.  We would not be far from land, according to his statement, until late the following night.  The small boat hanging astern was fully capable of transporting the two of us safely, and I was sufficiently acquainted with such a craft to feel no doubt of my ability to navigate it if once afloat.  But unless Mrs. Henley was also given her freedom on board, I could perceive no means of reaching her.  With her stateroom key hidden in the Captain’s pocket, any plan I might formulate was useless.  Nor was it at all probable she would be released until we were well at sea.  Baffled by these conditions I tossed and turned for an hour, hearing Henley return to his cabin, and marking a swifter pulsation of the engines.  Finally worn out mentally, as well as physically, I fell asleep.