Now, it must be observed, that Smallbones was never well off for clothes, and, on this occasion, when he fell overboard, he had nothing on but an old pair of thin linen trousers and a shirt which, from dint of long washing, from check had turned to a light cerulean blue: what with his struggles at the net and the force used to pull him into the boat, the shirt had more than one-half disappeared--that is to say, one sleeve and the back were wholly gone, and the other sleeve was well prepared to follow its fellow, on the first capful of wind. His trousers also were in almost as bad a state. In hauling him in, when his head was over the gunnel, one of the men had seized him by the seat of his trousers to lift him into the boat, and the consequence was, that the seat of his trousers having been too long set upon, was also left in his muscular gripe. All these items put together, the reader may infer, that, although Smallbones might appear merely ragged in front, that in his rear he could not be considered as decent, especially as he was the only one of the masculine sex among a body of females. No notice was taken of this by others, nor did Smallbones observe it himself, during the confusion and bustle previous to the departure of the smugglers; but now they were gone, Smallbones perceived his deficiencies, and was very much at a loss what to do, as he was aware that daylight would discover them to others as well as to himself: so he fixed his back up against one of the rocks, and remained idle while the women were busily employed storing away the cargo in the various compartments of the cave. Nancy, who had not forgotten that he was with them, came up to him. "Why do you stay there, Smallbones? you must be hungry and cold, come in with me, and I will find you something to eat." "I can't, Mistress Nancy, I want your advice first. Has any of the men left any of their duds in this here cavern?" "Duds, men! No, they keep them all on the other side. We have nothing but petticoats here and shimmeys." "Then what must I do?" exclaimed Smallbones. "Oh, I see, your shirt is torn off your back. Well, never mind, I'll lend you a shimmey." "Yes, Mistress Nancy, but it be more worse than that, I an't got no behind to my trousers, they pulled it out when they pulled me into the boat. I sticks to this here rock for decency's sake. What must I do?" Nancy burst into a laugh. "Do, why if you can't have men's clothes, you must put on the women's, and then you'll be in the regular uniform of the cave." "I do suppose that I must, but I can't say that I like the idea much, anyhow," replied Smallbones. "Why, you don't mean to stick to that rock like a limpit all your life, do you? there's plenty of work for you." "If so be, I must, I must," replied Smallbones.