"It takes it out of you," remarked Ellerton. "I wish we could get rid of the water in the hold; though I'm afraid the vessel's too badly strained to be able to patch up her sides."
"Even then we would have a bother to get rid of the water," replied Terence. "Still, we've done very well up to now."
"There's all that railway line material underneath the iron sheeting; that will want some shifting."
"We'll do it some time, but now we'll get off home."
It seemed natural for the lads to talk of the camp as "home," for already they were becoming attached to the free, yet none the less comfortable, manner of living.
"Wait while I get the sewing machine from the fo'c'sle. But you may as well come, too, and we'll take both of them."
With this, Ellerton, accompanied by Terence, made his way for'ard. In the gloom of the stuffy fo'c'sle, the sight of which forcibly reminded him of his quarters on the Tophet, Ellerton found the required articles.
"Hullo, here's a find!" he exclaimed, holding up a concertina.
"Sling the blessed thing overboard," replied Terence laughing. "If you take it ashore it's bound to make trouble in the camp."
"It may come in handy."