“Well done, little bantam!” one said; “you have taken that lout down a good many pegs, and I would not mind backing you to thrash him single-handed. We have noticed his goings-on for the past two or three days with the other boys, and had intended to give him a lesson, but you have done it right well. He may have been on a voyage before, but I would wager that he has never been aloft, and I would back you to be at the masthead before he has crawled through the lubbers’ hole. Now, my lad, just you understand that if you are ready to fight both those boys we won’t interfere, but if you try it one on one of them we will.” The boys’ duties consisted largely of working with the watch to which they were attached, of scrubbing decks, and cleaning brass-work. In battle their place was to bring up the powder and shot for the guns. On the second day, when the work was done, Will Gilmore went up to the boatswain. “If you please, sir,” he said, “may I go up the mast?” The boatswain looked at him out of one eye. “Do you really want to learn, lad?” “I do, sir.” “Well, when there are, as at present, other hands aloft, you may go up, but not at other times.” “Thank you, sir!” Will at once started. He was accustomed to climb the mast of John Hammond’s boat, but this was a very different matter. From scrambling about the cliffs so frequently he had a steady eye, and could look down without any feeling of giddiness. The lubbers’ hole had been pointed out to him, but he was determined to avoid the ignominy of having to go up through it. When he got near it he paused and looked round. It did not seem to him that there was any great difficulty in going outside it, and as he knew he could trust to his hands he went steadily up until he stood on the main-top. “Hallo, lad,” said a sailor who was busy there, “do you mean to say that you have come up outside?” “Yes, there did not seem to be any difficulty about it.” “And is it the first time you have tried?” “Yes.” “Then one day you will turn out a first-rate sailor. What are you going to do now?” Will looked up. “I am going up to the top of the next mast.” “You are sure that you won’t get giddy?” “Yes, I am accustomed to climbing up the cliffs on the Yorkshire coast, and I have not the least fear of losing my head.” “Well, then, fire away, lad, and if you find that you are getting giddy shout and I will come up to you.” “Thank you! I will call if I want help.” Steadily he went up till he stood on the cap of the topmast. “I may as well go up one more,” he said. “I can’t think why people make difficulties of what is so easy.” The sailor called to him as he saw him preparing to ascend still higher, but Will only waved his hand and started up. When he reached the cap of the top-gallant mast he sat upon it and looked down at the harbour. Presently he heard a hail from below, and saw the first lieutenant standing looking up at him.