I could not catch what the doctor said in reply to this, being too much occupied in looking after my own safety while trying to pick my steps towards the stern; for there was a lot of loose dunnage washing backwards and forwards as the hulk rolled sluggishly from side to side and tons of water continually came in as the waves broke over her, causing me to keep my weather eye open and clutch hold of every stray rope I could grip that was secured in any way to prevent me from going overboard. The noise of the wind and sea and creaking and groaning of the poor ship's timbers, too, was something awful. When I succeeded at last on getting aft, I found the entrance to the cabin from the deck was blocked by the wreck of the mizzenmast. By means of this, I climbed up on to the poop, the proper ladder belonging to which had also been smashed by the fall of the spars from aloft, as well as the covering of the booby hatch and skylight; a yawning chasm of splintered glass and broken framework only now representing the latter structure, while the former had disappeared entirely. The companion way, however, seemed still firm enough, although nearly filled up with fragments of wood and odds-and-ends of all sorts, besides being about a foot or so of water over all at the bottom of the stairway; and, I was just on the point of adventuring down in my quest of the lieutenant, when the latter emerged from the passage that led into the cabin or saloon below, followed by Bill Bates. Mr Jellaby's face was as pale as that of the man we had rescued. So was the coxswain's; and both seemed to start on seeing me as if I had been a ghost. "Good heavens, my boy!" exclaimed the lieutenant. "How did you get here?" "The doctor sent me, sir," I answered glibly. "He was getting anxious about you and thought something had happened." "By Jove, you gave me quite a turn after coming out of that infernal den there!" he said with a shudder, pointing over his shoulder. "I never saw such a sight in my life. Did you, Bates?" "No, sir," replied the coxswain. "I hopes to God, sir, I never shall again, sir!" "What is it, sir?" I asked, all my curiosity aroused. "May I come down and see the place, sir?" "No, Vernon, it's not fit for a boy like you to look at such a horrible sight. Why, it would haunt your memory for months, as I'm sure it will mine!" So saying, he began to mount the companion way towards me slowly, but had hardly ascended a couple of steps when he came to a halt, looking up for a moment as if undecided in his mind. "Stay; I think you may come down, youngster, after all," he said at length. "Perhaps it might be as well that you should see with your own eyes what Bates and I have seen; for, then you will serve as an additional witness in the event of there being any future inquiry. I hope you have a good strong stomach, my boy, and are not squeamish?"