Steve Young | Page 9

he turned to

the speaker. "Shortest piece."
Steve handed it, and the Norseman tried its length, which proved to be
just sufficient to reach across from the starboard shrouds, to which he
clung, to those on the port side.
"Just right," he said, and resting each end of the stout lath-like piece on
the ratlines, he proceeded to bind the starboard end fast to the outer
shroud.
This was quickly done by a few deft turns of the strong twine, and then
the sailor descended a little.
"Next size!" he cried, and another piece was passed up, this being a
trifle longer.
It proved to fit exactly, showing how accurately the bundle of pieces
had been prepared for the object in view.
"Next!" cried the man, and the piece was handed, placed in position on
the opposite ratlines, and secured in turn.
"See what these are for?" said the Norseman, smiling.
"Yes; you are making a ladder, so as to get from side to side," replied
Steve; "but you can't make it very far down, it would take tremendously
long pieces when we get lower."
"Only want ten or a dozen, my lad. You see what they're for now, don't
you?"
"N-no."
"To step on to from the ratlines, and go up into the crow's-nest."
"What, that tub?"
"Yes; we haul her up and lash her just above us, close to the truck there,
above the top piece of wood."

"I see now!" cried Steve; and, full of interest in the task, he handed the
pieces till the last had been secured, when the Norseman ascended to
the highest, took tight hold of the mast, and crossed over on to the
port-side shrouds, where he began to make fast the other ends of the
pieces of wood.
"How are you getting on up there, Steve?" cried the captain from the
deck.
"All right, sir. Done one side."
"Good! Feel giddy?"
"Oh no, sir."
"Shall I send the boy to relieve you?"
Steve replied in the negative, and the captain went aft again.
"Ever been up here before, sir?" said the man, as he rapidly went on
with his task.
"No, never."
"Oh!" ejaculated the Norseman, and he looked across at his companion
inquiringly, but with his busy fingers working away till the last piece
had been securely bound at the port side and a short wooden ladder
extended from side to side.
"Now, what's next?" asked Steve.
"Get up the crow's-nest. It'll want two of us for that."
"Well, I'll help," said Steve.
"Ay, sir, and I'd like your help; but it'll want one of my mates, with his
strong arms, to hold her securely while she's made fast."
He hailed the deck, and a man came up with a small rope, which

Johannes took, climbed up a little higher and passed the end through a
little block high up just below the truck, drew upon it, and sent the end
of the line down rapidly to the deck.
"Then this crow's-nest is for a look-out place?" said Steve.
"That's it, sir. Makes a nice snug cover for a man to stand in when we're
among the walrus or seals, or seeking a way through the ice."
"And this ladder is for a man to creep up and get in through the
bottom?"
"Right again, sir; you don't want no telling. He creeps up the ladder, in
through the bottom, shuts the door down, and there he is, able to look
out eight or nine miles any way."
Steve looked down, and could see that the men on deck were making
the great cask fast to the end of the line. Then, turning to the man
again:
"You said something about looking out for ice."
"Ay, sir, I did."
"How long will it be before we come in sight of any?"
The sailors both looked at him and smiled.
"'Bout as long as it takes to cast your eyes to the nor'ard, sir."
"What do you mean?"
"Look yonder," said the first Norseman, jerking his thumb over his
shoulder. "You can see ice, can't you?"
Steve looked in the direction indicated, and shook his head.
"Nonsense, sir!" said the other. "There's ice--one, two, three good-sized
bits floating this way."

"I can't see them," said Steve sadly. "Your eyes are better than mine."
"Maybe, sir. We've been at sea longer than you. Try again."
The boy looked, holding on by passing his arm round one of the
shrouds, while the mast gave from the pressure of the wind, and
produced a peculiar effect, as of swinging, now that his attention was
not directed to the work going on.
"Feel all right?" said the first Norseman.
"Yes."
"Not giddy, sir?"
"No, I think not. I'm all right, but I can't see any ice."
"Try again. There,