“Shall I send the boy to relieve you?”
Steve replied in the negative, and the captain went aft again.
“Ever been up here before, sir?” said the man, as he rapidly went on with his task.
“No, never.”
“Oh!” ejaculated the Norseman, and he looked across at his companion inquiringly, but with his busy fingers working away till the last piece had been securely bound at the port side and a short wooden ladder extended from side to side.
“Now, what’s next?” asked Steve.
“Get up the crow’s-nest. It’ll want two of us for that.”
“Well, I’ll help,” said Steve.
“Ay, sir, and I’d like your help; but it’ll want one of my mates, with his strong arms, to hold her securely while she’s made fast.”
He hailed the deck, and a man came up with a small rope, which Johannes took, climbed up a little higher and passed the end through a little block high up just below the truck, drew upon it, and sent the end of the line down rapidly to the deck.