“Sheer ignorance. If they thought they were likely to be crushed to death or suffocated, they would not do it.”
“What is the matter?” asked Mark anxiously.
“Stowaway, my lad,” said the second-mate. “Man hidden himself in the hold, and is frightened now the cargo has been packed over him.”
A peculiar chill ran through Mark as he realised the horror of the man’s position, perhaps below the huge bales and cases which he had seen lowered down into the hold, and so inclosed that it would be impossible to get to him before life was extinct.
Chapter Five.
How Bruff showed he had a Nose.
As Mark reached the great opening in the deck it was to find that the men who had been at work below were all clustered together listening and waiting for instructions from their officers.
“Hush! Don’t speak!” cried the first-mate, bending over the opening. “Are you sure it isn’t a cat?”