«A TRAVELLER'S TALES' 



183 



early one evening, and stowed myself away below 

 in what is called " the hold." I dare say you know 

 the poem " We'd both be bio wed if we'd be 

 stowed in the other chap's hold, you see," so that 

 you can easily picture to yourself what the hold of 

 a ship is like. 



' Towards morning there was a great trampling of 

 feet, so I determined to lie low ; but I was rather 

 alarmed, as I could hear the water rippling along 

 the sides of the ship, and I wondered if we were 

 sinking. As you may have guessed, it was only 

 the beginning of my first voyage, for the trampling 

 of feet meant that the ship was getting under 

 way, and the ripple of water was an audible sign 

 that we were slipping down the mighty river. 



' I cannot describe to you the sights which might 

 have been seen, as I never came on deck at all. 

 For one thing, I was in mortal fear at finding 

 myself afloat for the first time, and I had also read 

 that sailors were extraordinary straight-eyed shots 

 with a " belaying-pin " — whatever that missile may 

 be. I had better confess at once that, when I use 

 nautical terms, I have not the very remotest idea 

 of their meaning. I have been afloat many times 

 since this first voyage, but I have never been able 

 to make sure of the names. It is not very easy to 



