A sailor, to whom we applied for an introduction to the captain, said he was busy.

Another gave us a similar reply, with a monstrous grimace which was beyond our comprehension.

The sailor Joe was nowhere to be seen.

None of the sailors appeared willing to listen to us, though they stopped as they were running by to lend half an ear to what we had to say.

Some particular movement was going on in the ship.
Temple was the first to observe that the steamtug was casting us loose, and cried he, 'She'll take us on board and back to London Bridge.