hull.
For the first time, Libby wondered why the hatch had been left open. To give a way of escape? To protect fugitives from being trapped? If the
Christina
crashed into something, the hold would fill immediately with water.
Libby knew that Caleb trusted Osborne, the chief engineer. Did Osborne hire only men who would not talk about the secret hideaway?
With the lantern still in her hand, Libby stretched out her foot and placed it on a rung of the ladder. Then she realized she couldn’t climb a ladder without using both hands.
Setting the lantern as close to the hole as she dared, Libby started down. Above her Samson woofed softly, as though warning her not to go. Peering into the hole, he stood like a guard, watching over her.
About five feet down, Libby stepped onto the floor of the hull. The space was narrow, perhaps only three or four feet wide. Samson stretched out his paw, setting it on the first rung of the ladder.
“Stay,” Libby said, afraid that he would hurt himself if he jumped into the small space. Samson stepped back, but whimpered, wanting to follow.
“Stay,” Libby commanded again. Samson flopped down on his stomach, giving Libby more light. Barely able to see, she looked around.
On one side Libby felt the deep, wood beams of the hull. On the other side was the strong, wooden bulkhead that stretched from bow to stern. Neither of these could possibly have an opening.
On the remaining two sides, Libby felt solid wood.
There has to be a door!
she thought.
Or maybe two doors, one on each side. Doors that open into a hiding place!
Standing next to the ladder, Libby looked up. Only a faint glow from the lantern shone down the hole. Using the tiny bit of light, Libby turned to the solid wall on her left.
Stretching as high as she could reach, Libby moved her hands across the wood. Finding nothing, she moved her hands down, again going from one side to the other. Whenever her fingers found an uneven spot, she pressed the wood and felt all around it, hoping for a hidden latch.
She had almost reached the bottom of the wall when Samson whined. Looking up, Libby saw him on his feet, as though warning her. Moments later Libby heard footsteps. Quickly she backed away from the ladder. As she crouched in the deepest shadow, she heard a voice.
“Looking for mice?” a man asked Samson.
Mice
? Libby thought.
Again Samson whined, as though pleading with Libby to come up. In the next instant, she heard the thud of the hatch dropping down. As darkness closed in around her, a scream rose in Libby’s throat.
CHAPTER 7
Hidden Monsters
J ust as quickly, Libby swallowed her scream.
I can’t make noise
! she told herself over and over.
I’m not supposed to be down here! What if there’s danger? What if someone closed the hatch because the
Christina
is being searched?
Whatever she did, Libby could not give the hiding place away. Yet terror welled up within her. A terror unlike anything she had ever known.
Trying to calm herself, Libby drew a deep breath, but her panic did not disappear. Instead, she started shaking.
I want to have courage
, Libby thought.
But how do I get courage in a place like this?
As though to protect herself, Libby covered her face with her hands. When she felt her fingers tremble against her eyes, she knew how frightened she was.
In the next moment, Libby found herself praying as she had seldom prayed before.
Can God see me down in this dark hole? Does He know how scared I am?
If only Samson were with me. He’d try to lick my face and make me laugh
.
Then Libby knew that all her wishes wouldn’t do a bit of good. Like it or not, she had to find a way to escape.
Feeling around in the darkness, Libby found the ladder. Taking hold with both hands, she started climbing. Soon she bumped her head on the hatch.
Balancing herself on the ladder, Libby reached up. Using both hands, she pushed with all her strength. The hatch would not move.
Libby pounded against the wood.
Maybe it’s
For the first time, Libby wondered why the hatch had been left open. To give a way of escape? To protect fugitives from being trapped? If the
Christina
crashed into something, the hold would fill immediately with water.
Libby knew that Caleb trusted Osborne, the chief engineer. Did Osborne hire only men who would not talk about the secret hideaway?
With the lantern still in her hand, Libby stretched out her foot and placed it on a rung of the ladder. Then she realized she couldn’t climb a ladder without using both hands.
Setting the lantern as close to the hole as she dared, Libby started down. Above her Samson woofed softly, as though warning her not to go. Peering into the hole, he stood like a guard, watching over her.
About five feet down, Libby stepped onto the floor of the hull. The space was narrow, perhaps only three or four feet wide. Samson stretched out his paw, setting it on the first rung of the ladder.
“Stay,” Libby said, afraid that he would hurt himself if he jumped into the small space. Samson stepped back, but whimpered, wanting to follow.
“Stay,” Libby commanded again. Samson flopped down on his stomach, giving Libby more light. Barely able to see, she looked around.
On one side Libby felt the deep, wood beams of the hull. On the other side was the strong, wooden bulkhead that stretched from bow to stern. Neither of these could possibly have an opening.
On the remaining two sides, Libby felt solid wood.
There has to be a door!
she thought.
Or maybe two doors, one on each side. Doors that open into a hiding place!
Standing next to the ladder, Libby looked up. Only a faint glow from the lantern shone down the hole. Using the tiny bit of light, Libby turned to the solid wall on her left.
Stretching as high as she could reach, Libby moved her hands across the wood. Finding nothing, she moved her hands down, again going from one side to the other. Whenever her fingers found an uneven spot, she pressed the wood and felt all around it, hoping for a hidden latch.
She had almost reached the bottom of the wall when Samson whined. Looking up, Libby saw him on his feet, as though warning her. Moments later Libby heard footsteps. Quickly she backed away from the ladder. As she crouched in the deepest shadow, she heard a voice.
“Looking for mice?” a man asked Samson.
Mice
? Libby thought.
Again Samson whined, as though pleading with Libby to come up. In the next instant, she heard the thud of the hatch dropping down. As darkness closed in around her, a scream rose in Libby’s throat.
CHAPTER 7
Hidden Monsters
J ust as quickly, Libby swallowed her scream.
I can’t make noise
! she told herself over and over.
I’m not supposed to be down here! What if there’s danger? What if someone closed the hatch because the
Christina
is being searched?
Whatever she did, Libby could not give the hiding place away. Yet terror welled up within her. A terror unlike anything she had ever known.
Trying to calm herself, Libby drew a deep breath, but her panic did not disappear. Instead, she started shaking.
I want to have courage
, Libby thought.
But how do I get courage in a place like this?
As though to protect herself, Libby covered her face with her hands. When she felt her fingers tremble against her eyes, she knew how frightened she was.
In the next moment, Libby found herself praying as she had seldom prayed before.
Can God see me down in this dark hole? Does He know how scared I am?
If only Samson were with me. He’d try to lick my face and make me laugh
.
Then Libby knew that all her wishes wouldn’t do a bit of good. Like it or not, she had to find a way to escape.
Feeling around in the darkness, Libby found the ladder. Taking hold with both hands, she started climbing. Soon she bumped her head on the hatch.
Balancing herself on the ladder, Libby reached up. Using both hands, she pushed with all her strength. The hatch would not move.
Libby pounded against the wood.
Maybe it’s
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