Le Gros, and then, turning to me, with the rope held
in menace, he ordered me to ascend.

I had no alternative but obey, and, twisting myself around the topmast
shrouds, I caught the ratlins in my hands and commenced climbing upward.

CHAPTER SEVEN.

I climbed with slow and nervous step. I should have gone much slower
but that I was forced upward by Le Gros, who followed me with the rope's
end, with which he struck me behind whenever I made a stop. He
delivered his blows with fiendish spite, striking me about the legs and
over the posteriors, and trying to hurt me as much as possible. In this
he succeeded, for the hard-knotted rope pained me exceedingly. I had no
alternative therefore but to keep on upward or submit to his lashing. I
kept on.

I reached the topmast crosstrees, and mounted upon them. Oh! it was a
fearful sight to look down. Below me was nothing but the sea itself,
for the masts, bent over by the breeze, were far from being
perpendicular. I felt as if suspended in the air, with not even the
earth beneath me--for the surface of the sea was below, glittering like
the sky itself.

Beneath me, however, at my feet, was the dark, scowling face of Le Gros,
who, with threatening voice and gestures, ordered me upward--still
upward!

Upward! how could I climb father? Above me extended the topgallant
rigging. Upon this there were no rattlins, nothing to rest the foot
upon--nothing but the two black rigid ropes converging until they met at
the head of the mast. How could I ascend them? It seemed beyond my
power to do so.

But I was not even allowed to hesitate. The brute swung himself near,
and continued plying the knotted cord upon my shins, at the same time
uttering oaths and ferocious threats that he would cut every inch of
skin off my body if I did not go aloft.

I had no alternative but to try, and, placing myself between the ropes,
I commenced drawing myself upward. After a severe effort I succeeded in
getting upon the topgallant yard, where I again paused--I could go no
further. My breath was quite gone and I had scarce strength to hold by
the rigging and prevent myself from falling.

The royal-mast still towered above, and below, threatened the dark face
of Le Gros. There was a smile upon it in the midst of its scowling--a
smile of satisfaction at the agony he saw I was undergoing at that
moment.

I could still hear the voices of the fiends below, calling out the
commands: "