“Only want ten or a dozen, my lad. You see what they’re for now, don’t you?”
“N–no.”
“To step on to from the ratlines, and go up into the crow’s-nest.”
“What, that tub?”
“Yes; we haul her up and lash her just above us, close to the truck there, above the top piece of wood.”
“I see now!” cried Steve; and, full of interest in the task, he handed the pieces till the last had been secured, when the Norseman ascended to the highest, took tight hold of the mast, and crossed over on to the port-side shrouds, where he began to make fast the other ends of the pieces of wood.
“How are you getting on up there, Steve?” cried the captain from the deck.
“All right, sir. Done one side.”
“Good! Feel giddy?”
“Oh no, sir.”