When the others didn't run, Brinley paused long enough to realize the man was the very same one that broken their chains just hours before.  She hadn't recognized him immediately as it had been fairly dark in the hull of the ship, plus he had been in significantly better shape earlier.  

"Oh! Sir," she said.  The 'sir' felt awkward, but she didn't know how else to address him.  She stepped forward,  "I thought for sure when Ulric caught you that...  that he would kill you for helping us.  We owe you a great debt."

When she glanced down she saw Oliver scratching in the dirt and looked closer at his message.  "Not if we can get to those ships," she said determinedly.