There you are. You're all right now, arn't you, Neb?"

"Oh, my heye!" muttered the great fellow, and I felt a profound sense of
satisfaction in hearing him speak again. "I began to think I was a
goner."

"Not you," said Bob.

"Warn't the skin all off o' me, Barney?"

"Nay, not it, lad."

"Sure? Felt as if you was a-stripping of it all off o' me when I began
to come."

"Nay, you're in your skin right enough, messmate."

"Sure, Barney? 'Cause I feel precious sore uppards."

"Sure? Yes. There, I'm glad we got you out without breaking."

"So'm I, mate, werry glad indeed. I'm two sizes too big for a hole like
that, and I don't think it's any use for me to try again."

As he spoke there came the three signal knocks, and as Bob answered them
he growled out--

"Oh yes, we know you're there. Look here, Mr Dale, sir. I'm two sizes
smaller than Neb; I'm going to have a try."

"No, you'd better not, Bob," I whispered. "Let's wait and try to break
through the hatch."

"Nay, sir, we ought to get along with them if we could. I'll just try,
I'm quite two sizes smaller than Neb, and I won't be such an old silly
as to go and ram myself in fast. Say I may go, sir."

"Yes, sir, let him go," said Dumlow. "It'll take some o' the conceit
out on him when he gets stuck fast."

"Well then, go, Bob, but pray be careful."

"Ay, ay, sir, I'll be careful, for I've got a great respeck for Bob
Hampton, mariner. But you'll lend a hand, Neb, if I want hauling out?"

"I just wall," growled the big fellow. "You shall have it, messmate."

I felt very much disposed to stop him, but while I was hesitating there
was the old scuffling noise, and I could mentally see Bob Hampton
shuffling in the opening above the cases, and soon after there was a
grunting and panting, followed by a low muttering in the hole.

"What d'yer say, messmate?" whispered Barney.

_Pat_!

"Here, I say, mind what you're arter," cried Barney, angrily. "You
kicked me right in the chin. I don't want my teeth loosened that how."

"Why, he's a-comin' back," growled Neb.

For the shuffling and rustling was continued, and the next minute Bob
Hampton was back and lying along the casks.

"Couldn't you get any farther?" I said, feeling greatly relieved at his
return.

"No, sir. Neb's two sizes too large for the place, and I'm one size. I
got as far as he did, and if I'd moved a bit farder I should ha' stuck."

"Yer didn't go as far as I did."