"Right as it can be in a place like this, matey. Yer can't breathe, nor you can't see, and--well now, that's queer. You seem to ha' set my head working again, Mr Dale, sir; and I recklect sittin' in the s'loon eating our dinner arter you gents had done, and then coming over all pleasant and comfble like, and then I don't seem to 'member no more till I woke up down here." "And that knocking we heard must be some of the others," I cried excitedly. "That's sartain, sir." "Is there any one else here beside us four?" "If there be," says Barney, "we're a-lying on 'em, for there arn't no room without as I can see." "Yer can't see," growled Dumlow. "Well, I didn't mean with my eyes, Neb; so don't be so chuff on a fellow. I meant with my understanding." "Don't. Don't get arguing together," I cried impatiently. "It is suffocating down here. I want to understand how we are placed, and I can't quite make it out yet." "Well, sir, p'r'aps I can help you a bit," said Bob. "Seems to me as they pulled up a hatch and pitched us in, and then battened it down again." "And where are our friends?" "Why, they'd shove 'em where we shoved they, down in the forksle, I should say, unless they've stuffed 'em in the cable-tier." "Yes, perhaps so," I said thoughtfully. "Why, o' course," growled Dumlow. "What? They are in the cable-tier?" "Oh, I dunno, sir; I was a-thinking about our taking they wittles in the s'loon, and it's come back like sort o' bells ringing in my ear, and Mr Denning saying she's dying. Oh yes, I recklect that, and the doctor coming. That's 'bout as far as I can get." "I 'member the wittles on the binnacle quite plain now," said Barney; "and, yes, o' course, I kep' coming over all soft like, and wantin' to sing songs, and listen to moosic, and couldn't sing; but it was all silver and gold and sunshine and beautiful birds in beautiful trees. Yes, it's all right, sir. You see now, don't you, Neb?" "No, I can't see nowt; but I dessay it's all right. I don't want to know; it don't matter to me." "Hush!" I whispered. "There's that knocking again." There it was quite plainly, and then came a repetition seemingly close at hand,--three smart taps as of knuckles on a chest. "There's some one else, and quite near," I said in a low voice. "No, my lad, that was me. Here's a big case behind me, and I let go on it." There were three more taps at a distance. "Knock again," I said, and this time Bob struck twice. A few moments later there were distinctly heard two knocks. "They heard us," I said, and answered. "Try again with one." He struck once as loudly as he could, and we waited excitedly to hear one blow given apparently on a bulk-head. "Those are our friends there," I cried excitedly. "If it arn't old Frenchy gammoning us, sir," said Barney.