"I wish the ship would be quiet till we start," I said. "We're not at
sea yet."

In reply to this Alister at some length, and with as much emphasis as
whispering permitted, explained to me that a ship could not, in the
nature of things, keep still, except in certain circumstances, such as
being in dry dock for repairs or lying at anchor in absolutely still
water.

"Good gracious!" I interrupted. "Of course I know all that. You don't
suppose I expect it not to move?"

"I understood ye to say that ye wushed it," he replied with dignity, if
not offence.

"I don't know what I wish!" I moaned.

My companion's reply to this was to feel about for me and then to begin
scrambling over me; then he said--"Move on, laddie, to your right, and
ye'll find space to lie on the flat of your back, close by the ship's
side. I'm feared you're barely fit for the job ye've undertaken, but
ye'll be easier if ye lie down, and get some sleep."

I moved as he told me, and the relief of lying flat was great--so great
that I began to pull myself together again, and made ready in my mind to
thank my unseen companion for the generosity with which he had
evidently given me the place he had picked for himself. But whilst I was
thinking about it I fell fast asleep.

When I woke, for the first minute I thought I was at home, and I could