“No, sir, head-first; and I come out head-first too.”
I was so puzzled that I said nothing, and backed out as quickly as I could, followed by the sailor, who seated himself panting.
“Precious hot in there, sir,” he said.
“But how did you manage? You said you were stuck fast,” growled Bob.
“So I was, matey, for a minute or two, right at the end as far as I could go; for it got too small for me at last.”
“How far did you go in?”
“Ah, that I don’t know, sir. Ever so far in, till it got so as I should ha’ been stuck fast if I’d gone any farther.”
“Then how could you turn round?”
“It was wider and higher a little bit this side of the narrow part, and I made shift to double myself up pretty close and get round there.”
“Then was it there you were stuck?” I asked.