Well, all these different things that I have named lay packed there in
a space but little larger than a fair-sized dining-room.[20] The
several sorts, moreover, as I noticed, lay so well arranged, there
could be no entanglement of one with other, nor were searchers
needed;[21] and if all were snugly stowed, all were alike get-at-
able,[22] much to the avoidance of delay if anything were wanted on
the instant.

[20] Lit. "a symmetrically-shaped dining-room, made to hold ten
couches."

[21] Lit. "a searcher"; "an inquisitor." Cf. Shakesp. "Rom. and Jul."
V. ii. 8.

[22] Lit. "not the reverse of easy to unpack, so as to cause a waste
of time and waiting."

Then the pilot's mate[23]--"the look-out man at the prow," to give him
his proper title--was, I found, so well acquainted with the place for
everything that, even off the ship,[24] he could tell you where each
set of things was laid and how many there were of each, just as well
as any one who knows his alphabet[25] could tell you how many letters
there are in Socrates and the order in which they stand.

[23] Cf. "Pol. Ath." i. 1; Aristoph. "Knights," 543 foll.

[24] Or, "with his eyes shut, at a distance he could say exactly."

[25] Or, "how to spell." See "Mem." IV. iv. 7; Plat. "Alc." i. 113 A.