But there was no help for it, and they toiled on down among the crevices in safety, and finally reached the brig, but not till close upon midnight, rejoicing, in spite of their weariness, upon a great feat achieved.
“But it caps me, that it do,” said Smith in the forecastle.
“What does?”
“Why, for that Mr Oliver Lane. I knows as we say they gents has got tools for everything, but I never knowed as there was watches made as could tell yer the time and how high up yer are all at once. Well, there is, and I see it all, and it’s quite right. I mean to have one of them watches, and I asked Mr Oliver Lane about ’em. He says you can buy ’em in London for thrippenten apiece, and I think he says as they was made by a woman, Mrs Annie Royd, but I aren’t quite sure.”
“But yer can’t afford to give thrippenten for one of they things,” growled Wriggs.
“How do you know, matey? Mebbe I can, my lad.”
“What yer want it for?”
“See how high yer are up when yer climbs mountains. I mean to say it would be grand.”
“Ah, well, I don’t want one o’ them,” said Wriggs, thoughtfully.
“What do you want, then?”