d so long."

"Do ye think there's danger?" asked the Kid, in a falter, and turning
terrified eyes on one after another.

"Course," said Hansen--we had thought him asleep--"course there is!
That's what ye came here for, isn't it? This is when th' hero stands
on th' weather taffrail, graspin' th' tautened backst'y an' hurlin'
defiance at th' mighty elements--'Nick Carter,' chap. one!"

Eccles and I grinned. Munro took heart.

"Danger," still the drowsy tone, "I should think there is! Why, any
one o' these seas might sweep the harness-cask and t'morrow's dinner
overboard! Any one of 'em might----"

The door swung to with a crash, a blast of chill wind and rain blew in
on us, the lamp flickered and flared, a dripping oilskin-clad figure
clambered over the washboard.

"Door! door!" we yelled as he fumbled awkwardly with the handle.

"Oh, shut up! Ye'd think it was the swing-door of a pub. t' hear ye
shouting!" He pulled heavily, and the broken-hinged baulk slammed into
place. It was Jones, of the other watch, come in to turn us out.

"Well, I'm hanged!" He looked around the house--at the litter on the
floor, at the spurting water that lashed across with the lurch of her.
"Why don't some of ye bale the place out 'stead of standing by t' shout
'Door, door!' when there's no need? Damn! Look at that!" She lurched
again. A foot or more of broken water dashed from side to side,
carrying odds of loose gear with it. "Egad! The port watch for lazy
sojers--every time! Why don't ye turn to an' dry the half-deck out?
Oh no; not your way! It's 'Damn you, Jack--I'm all right!' with you
chaps. Goin' on deck again soon, eh? Why should ye dry up for the
other watch, eh? ... Oh! all right. Just you----"

"Oh, dry up yourself, Jones!" Hansen sat up in his bunk and turned his
legs out. "What you making all the noise about? We've been balin' and
balin', and it's no use! No use at all ... with that covering board
working loose and the planks opening out at every roll.... What's up,
anyway? ... All hands, eh?"

"Yes. 'All hands wear ship' at eight bells! We've just set the fore
lower tops'l. Think we must be getting near the Western Islands by the
way th' Old Man's poppin' up and down. It's pipin' outside! Blowin'
harder than ever, and that last big sea stove in the weather side of
the galley. The watch are at it now, planking up and that.... Well,
I'm off! Ye've quarter an hour t' get your gear on. Li