Neville looked doubtfully up the narrow stairs.
"We can't get him there with this sea running."
Sullivan spread his legs wide, took both of Larry's wrists in one hand, and swung the unconscious man across his back. He strode to the iron stairs and began to climb. As he reached the first grating Larry groaned. Dan stopped dead; near him the great cross-heads were plunging steadily up and down.
"God, Mr. Neville, did he hit ag'in' somethin'?" The sweat of strain and fear covered his face.
The vessel leaped to the crest of a wave, and dropped sheer into the trough beyond.
"No; but for God's sake, man, go on! You'll pitch with him to the floor if she does that again!"
Dan, clinging to the rail with his free hand, began climbing the second flight.
At the top grating Neville sprang past him to the store-room door.
"Hold him a second longer," he called, and spread an armful of cotton waste on the vise bench.
Dan laid Larry on the bench. He straightened his own great body for a moment, then sat down on the floor and cried.