iron-bound, round the
most prominent part of a vessel, from stem to stern, to protect the side
from injury when it glides up to wharf, pier, or pile. This stood out
about a foot, and Vince felt that if he could only climb on this, the
rest would be easy.

He passed his hands cautiously over it, and, reaching in, found to his
great delight a ring-bolt, through which it was possible to pass two or
three fingers. Jerking his leg, he felt himself free, and rose up,
getting first one foot and then the other on the sill of the opening.

There was no difficulty in standing like this, and as he did so he felt
Mike's arms tightly embracing his legs, an act which hindered further
progress if he had meant to climb higher.

But he was satisfied with what he had done; after peering about a
little, and listening for some minutes, he jerked one leg again, felt
them freed, and began to descend.

To an active boy, whose nerves were firm, this was easy enough; and
directly after he stood in the little cabin, breathing hard, but able to
find words, and whisper to his anxious fellow-prisoner.

"It's as easy as easy," he said: "nothing to getting up a bit of stiff
cliff;" and he then described what he had found, and how all seemed as
still as could be. "Couldn't you hear any watch on deck?"

"Not a sound of them. I believe every one's below; and I say, Mike, we
needn't get over on deck at all. There's plenty of room to take hold of
the top of the bulwarks and walk along. All we've got to do is to mind
the stays when we come to them, and step round carefully."

"Yes, I understand perfectly," said Mike. "Come on, and let's get it
over."

"Wait till I've put on my boots. I shall want them." The boy knelt
down and hurriedly drew them on, and laced them as well as he could in
the dark; then raising himself on to the window-sill without assistance,
he drew himself into his old position, and reaching up and over the
streak, found the ring-bolt, which rattled faintly, and, passing his
fingers through, stood up on the sill, and then drew himself on to the
projecting woodwork.

Here he crouched for a few moments listening, before rising erect, with
one hand upon the top of the bulwark, over which he looked; but all was
dark, and there was not a sound to be heard save the faint rustling
below him made by Mike.

This was the most nervous part of the business. A certain amount of
tremor had troubled the lad as he climbed out, and t