"The place is as dark as hell," he muttered and went off, as I guessed to get a light.
I used the time to make another search for a revolver in the stunned man’s pockets, and failing to find one, I threw some of the litter over the head and shoulders, and went back to my corner and lay down as if still unconscious, but in such a position that I could spring on Marlen the instant he entered.
This time he brought not only a lantern but a revolver. He had little of the courage of the other fellow I soon saw, and he brought the weapon more because he feared the "doctor" than from any suspicion that I was the cause of the mysterious trouble.
"What fool’s game are you playing, doc?" he said. "Don’t try any pranks with me. What have you done to the man?"
He thrust in the lantern and peered all about him. I saw him take a long look at me, and the scrutiny apparently satisfied him that I was still of no account; and then he turned from me to the prostrate form of his companion.
He looked long and anxiously at him, and shook his head. "He must have had some sort of fit, if he hasn’t got some devil’s game on. Doctor!"
He appeared to be afraid to trust himself inside the place, and for some minutes remained in stolid thought.
Next he levelled the revolver at the other. "I’m covering you, doc. Get up or I shall fire." He shook his head again in dire perplexity when he received no reply, and at length made up his mind to risk entering.
He set the lantern down, fortunately on the side farther from me, and stooped to enter, holding the weapon all the time in readiness, and glueing his eyes on the still form of the unconscious man.
At that moment I changed my plan. I would have that revolver if it were in any way possible.
I let him enter, therefore, and crawl to the side of the "doctor." He moved very slowly and with intense caution, feeling the body as he approached the head. Then he pulled off the covering of the face and started violently.
For the instant he was entirely off his guard in his consternation, and I took advantage of that moment. I sprang forward, wrested the revolver from his grasp, thrust him violently down, seized the lantern and started out on to the deck, sliding to the hatch and shooting home the bolt.