"Yes, Barney. But you didn't go in feet first?" "No, sir, head-first; and I come out head-first too." I was so puzzled that I said nothing, and backed out as quickly as I could, followed by the sailor, who seated himself panting. "Precious hot in there, sir," he said. "But how did you manage? You said you were stuck fast," growled Bob. "So I was, matey, for a minute or two, right at the end as far as I could go; for it got too small for me at last." "How far did you go in?" "Ah, that I don't know, sir. Ever so far in, till it got so as I should ha' been stuck fast if I'd gone any farther." "Then how could you turn round?" "It was wider and higher a little bit this side of the narrow part, and I made shift to double myself up pretty close and get round there." "Then was it there you were stuck?" I asked. "Yes, sir; but by a bit o' giving and taking I got round, and come out face forrard, as you see." "I am thankful," I murmured. "Well, if you come to that, sir, I liked it better when I'd got face outwards; for it arn't nice to feel yourself set fast in among a lot o' cargo which may shift if the ship gives a roll, and there you are, just like a blue-bottle shut in a big book, and come out next year flat and dry." "Why, you must be a thin 'un, Barney," growled Bob. "You'd better leave the sea, and take to being first-class messenger to go up and down steam-pipes." "Be quiet, Bob!" I said angrily. "Here, tell me, Barney," I continued; for now that the man was safe, the horror and nervousness of a terrible accident rapidly passed away. "Tell you what, sir?" "Is it hopeless? Is there no chance of getting to the forecastle bulk-head that way?" "Well, sir, I can't say only that you know how far Neb Dumlow got, and then how Bob Hampton got a little farther." "Didn't," growled Dumlow. "Now what's the good o' you talking, messmate? because he did, just a bit farther," said Barney, in a tone full of protest. "You may just as well say I didn't go three times as far." "Nay, I won't say that, lad." "'Cause I did; and arter the tight nip of a bit where them two stuck, it were pretty easy, and I got along fast, though of course it's all ups and downs like. Then there's the widish bit 'tween them two big cases, where I twisted round; and after that the cargo's closer together, and nigher the beams, till it got too stiff for me, and I give it up; for I knowed that if I got stuck there, I should have to stay." "Then there is a way on?" I said excitedly. "Kind of a sort of a way, sir. I don't think I could ha' got along if I'd tried ever so hard, 'cause the cargo's jammed up so close to the roof; but a small sort o' man might do it, or p'r'aps I might if old Frenchy keeps me here long enough to get precious thin." "But a boy could get along?" I said.