The Golden Hope had crossed the bar, and was curtsying to the waves of the English Channel.
I waited a little longer, then began pounding on the hatch with the butt of the iron rod.
At first no notice was taken of my efforts; then, without apparent warning, the hatch was whipped off. A flash of dazzling sunshine temporarily blinded me, and before I could realize my surroundings rough hands seized me by the shoulders and dragged me on deck, while a man shouted:
"Cap'n, here's a blessed stowaway!"
CHAPTER XI
My First Day at Sea
Captain Jeremy Miles was standing under the break of the poop, his sunburnt face darkened to a brick-red colour with anger.
"What d'ye mean, you rascal, stowing yourself aboard my ship?"
I must have looked a pitiable object, for, in addition to my soot-blackened face, my clothes were covered with dust and tar, the former from the roads, the latter from the timbers of the hold, though, until I came on deck, I was unaware of it.
My garments were also rent in several places, my hands were bleeding from the result of the rats' bites, and my left eye was becoming rapidly closed, by reason of the blow I had received when flung across the cable tier.