In the fourth attempt he managed to gain half way up before he fell, coming down heavily on his side.

This was hailed with low laughter and querulous chirpings that might well have come from the throats of huge birds.

He regained his feet, absurdly bristled the hair on his shoulders and absurdly growled his high disdain of these lesser, two-legged things that came and went and obeyed the wills of great, white-skinned, two-legged gods such as Skipper and Mister Haggin.
Undeterred by his heavy fall, Jerry essayed the ladder again.

A temporary easement of the _Arangi's_ rolling gave him his opportunity, so that his forefeet were over the high combing of the companion when the next big roll came.

He held on by main strength of his bent forelegs, then scrambled over and out on deck.
Amidships, squatting on the deck near the sky-light, he investigated several of the boat's crew and Lerumie.