The slave deck was empty, as all the seamen were busy on deck. In the lamplight Hornblower looked at his bed with the mathematics book beside it. Nearby was a locked door. Behind it, Honblower knew, were pots of paint. I wonder, thought Honblower, if I could start a fire in there! But the door was thick and very strong and its lock was excellent. Suddenly Honblower had an idea. He picked up the book and stared to pull the pages out of it. He made them into little balls and threw them on the floor. Carefully he covered them with hot oil from the lamp. He pulled the bedclothes off the bed, then he lit the paper with the lamp