increased.

"I'm coming, Blane," I said, in a loud whisper.

"No, no; don't you come," he whispered back. "I'm coming out, and there
arn't room for two."

I stopped in astonishment, for I had pictured him to be hopelessly fixed
and unable to move; and not only did the rustling continue, and he
seemed to be approaching, but he said he was coming out.

"Rather an awkward kind o' place, sir," he said, and his voice was
carried along toward me, so that it sounded as if he were whispering
close to my ear. "One feels like a rat going down a pump to make a meal
off the sucker, and a drink o' water after. Don't you try to come,
sir."

"But I am in, Barney, I came to help you."

"Thankye, sir; but I'll talk to you when I get out. I'm coming fast
now."

And he did come on so fast that in less than a minute, as I waited
motionless, and with one hand extended to touch his feet when they came
into reach, his face was close to mine, and I shrank back as he said--

"Here we are, sir. That's you, isn't it?"

"Yes, Barney. But you didn't go in feet first?"

"No, sir, head-first; and I come out head-first too."

I was so puzzled that I said nothing, and backed out as quickly as I
could, followed by the sailor, who seated himself panting.

"Precious hot in there, sir," he said.

"But how did you manage? You said you were stuck fast," growled Bob.

"So I was, matey, for a minute or two, right at the end as far as I
could go; for it got too small for me at last."

"How far did you go in?"

"Ah, that I don't know, sir. Ever so far in, till it got so as I should
ha' been stuck fast if I'd gone any farther."

"Then how could you turn round?"

"It was wider and higher a little bit this side of the narrow part, and
I made shift to double myself up pretty close and get round there."

"Then was it there you were stuck?" I asked.

"Yes, sir; but by a bit o' giving and taking I got round, and come out
face forrard, as you see."

"I am thankful," I murmured.

"Well, if you come to that, sir, I liked it better when I'd got face
outwards; for it arn't nice to feel yourself set fast in among a lot o'
cargo which may shift if the ship gives a roll, and there you are, just
like a blue-bottle shut in a big book, and come out next year flat and
dry."

"Why, you must be a thin 'un, Barney," growled Bob. "You'd better leave
the sea, and take to being first-class messenger to go up and down
steam-pipes."

"Be quiet, Bo