t as well
take a stroll along by the side of the ship, by way of a reconnaissance.
It would enable me to ascertain where I might climb over the side most
easily, which knowledge would be of use to me when the hour should
arrive for making the attempt. What if the sailors _did_ see me going
about? They could not hinder me from walking along the quay, and they
would never dream of my object in staying there. What if they should
take notice of me, and taunt me as before? I could talk back to them,
and thus gain a good opportunity for observation--the very thing I
wanted.

Without losing another moment, I stepped forth from my resting-place,
and commenced sauntering along, with an assumed air of indifference to
all that was passing around. I soon came opposite the stem of the big
ship, where I paused and looked up. Her deck was nearly on a level with
the pavement, because she was now heavily laden, and of course at full
depth in the water; but the high bulwarks on her quarter prevented me
from seeing the deck. I perceived that it would be easy to step from
the quay, and after clambering up the bulwarks, get over by the mizen
shrouds; and I at once made up my mind that this would be the proper
way. Of course, I should have to creep through the shrouds with great
caution. If the night should not prove dark enough, and I should be
detected by the watch, it would be all up with me. I should get
caught--perhaps suspected as a thief and punished. No matter; I was
resolved to risk it.

Everything was quiet on board. I heard neither voice nor noises. Some
of the merchandise was still lying upon the wharf, and therefore they
could not have finished lading the vessel. But the men were no longer
at work, for I was now near enough to have a view of both the gangway
and the main hatch. Whither could they have gone?

I moved silently forward, until I stood by the very end of the staging.
I had now a full view of the hatchway, and a considerable portion of the
main deck around it. I saw neither the blue jacket of the mate nor the
greasy garments of the sailors. All the men must have gone away to some
other part of the ship.

I paused and listened. Indistinctly, I could hear the hum of voices
coming from the forward part of the vessel. I knew they were the voices
of the crew in conversation with each other.

Just at that moment, I observed a man pass by the opening in the
gangway. He was carrying a large vessel th