"Now, master," he said; and Steve gave a kind of gasp as he turned to the speaker. "Shortest piece." Steve handed it, and the Norseman tried its length, which proved to be just sufficient to reach across from the starboard shrouds, to which he clung, to those on the port side. "Just right," he said, and resting each end of the stout lath-like piece on the ratlines, he proceeded to bind the starboard end fast to the outer shroud. This was quickly done by a few deft turns of the strong twine, and then the sailor descended a little. "Next size!" he cried, and another piece was passed up, this being a trifle longer. It proved to fit exactly, showing how accurately the bundle of pieces had been prepared for the object in view. "Next!" cried the man, and the piece was handed, placed in position on the opposite ratlines, and secured in turn. "See what these are for?" said the Norseman, smiling. "Yes; you are making a ladder, so as to get from side to side," replied Steve; "but you can't make it very far down, it would take tremendously long pieces when we get lower." "Only want ten or a dozen, my lad. You see what they're for now, don't you?" "N-no." "To step on to from the ratlines, and go up into the crow's-nest." "What, that tub?" "Yes; we haul her up and lash her just above us, close to the truck there, above the top piece of wood." "I see now!" cried Steve; and, full of interest in the task, he handed the pieces till the last had been secured, when the Norseman ascended to the highest, took tight hold of the mast, and crossed over on to the port-side shrouds, where he began to make fast the other ends of the pieces of wood. "How are you getting on up there, Steve?" cried the captain from the deck. "All right, sir. Done one side." "Good! Feel giddy?" "Oh no, sir." "Shall I send the boy to relieve you?" Steve replied in the negative, and the captain went aft again. "Ever been up here before, sir?" said the man, as he rapidly went on with his task. "No, never." "Oh!" ejaculated the Norseman, and he looked across at his companion inquiringly, but with his busy fingers working away till the last piece had been securely bound at the port side and a short wooden ladder extended from side to side. "Now, what's next?" asked Steve. "Get up the crow's-nest. It'll want two of us for that." "Well, I'll help," said Steve. "Ay, sir, and I'd like your help; but it'll want one of my mates, with his strong arms, to hold her securely while she's made fast." He hailed the deck, and a man came up with a small rope, which Johannes took, climbed up a little higher and passed the end through a little block high up just below the truck, drew upon it, and sent the end of the line down rapidly to the deck. "Then this crow's-nest is for a look-out place?" said Steve. "That's it, sir. Makes a nice snug cover for a man to stand in when we're among the walrus or seals, or seeking a way through the ice."