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" He held up
the waistcoat for inspection. The official, lowering
his lantern, bent over, straining his eyes to see.
"It's all right, I suppose. You can pass."
He lifted the barrier and the boat moved slowly
out into the dark, heaving water. At a little distance
Arthur sat up and threw off the clothes.
"Here she is," the sailor whispered, after rowing
for some time in silence. "Keep close behind me
and hold your tongue."
He clambered up the side of a huge black monster,
swearing under his breath at the clumsiness
of the landsman, though Arthur's natural agility
rendered him less awkward than most people
would have been in his place. Once safely on
board, they crept cautiously between dark masses
of rigging and machinery, and came at last to a
hatchway, which the sailor softly raised.
"Down here!" he whispered. "I'll be back in
a minute."
The hold was not only damp and dark, but intolerably
foul. At first Arthur instinctively drew
back, half choked by the stench of raw hides and
rancid oil.


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