The man did so, and we heard a faint voice, feeble as a sweep’s call-down from the height of a tall chimney. “Don’t you see what has happened?” cried I. “Why, look! This vessel has been in collision--struck some vessel on end. Her bowsprit has been run in by the blow, and _the heel of it has closed the slide of the hatch over the people who are below here_!” I thumped and sang out. A voice dimly responded. I thumped again, and roared at the top of my lungs: “We’ll have you out of this, but you must wait a bit. Do you hear me?” and there was a note in the faint, inarticulate response that made me know I was heard. I looked about, but my eye sought in vain for such machinery of tackles as I required to free the men below. I did not choose to waste time by hunting, and told Meehan to jump into the boat and pull, with Travers, over to the brig. By this time the two vessels had so closed to each other as to be within easy speaking distance. I hailed the _Black Watch_, and Greaves stood up and made answer. “There are two men locked up in this schooner’s fok’sle, and the heel of the bowsprit----” and I explained how it happened that the hatch was closed and immovably secured. He flourished his arm. I then requested him to send me the necessary gear for clearing the hatch by running out the bowsprit; I likewise asked him for a couple more men. Again he flourished his arm. By this time the boat was alongside the brig. “What have you found aft in the cabin?” shouted Greaves. “Nothing but ordinary furniture,” I answered. “I see,” he cried, “that the skylight is oblong. Is the table square?” “It is, sir.” “A chair at the head and foot?” “Ay, sir, and lockers on either hand.” His figure hardened into a posture of astonishment. He stood mute. I could readily imagine an expression of superstitious dismay on his face; or rather, let me say, that I _hoped_ this, for methought it would be ominous for our faith in those distant South Pacific dollars if he should accept the startling realization of this dream with the tranquillity of a man who dreams much, and who believes in his dreams, and whose actions are governed by them. The boat returned with the additional assistance I required, and with the necessary gear for freeing the forecastle hatch. The business was somewhat tedious. It was a case of what sailors know as _jam_. It involved luff upon luff, much sweating and swearing, much hard straining and hoarse chorusing at the little forecastle capstan. At last we started the bowsprit, the heel ran clear of the hatch, and two of the men, grasping the hatch cover, swept it through its grooves.