Here, under the wide awnings, were many more of the gods--many times more than he had that far seen in his life.
The for'ard end of the boat-deck terminated in the bridge, which, instead of being raised above it, was part of it.

Trotting around the wheel-house to the shady lee-side of it, he came upon his fate; for be it known that Captain Duncan possessed on board in addition to two fox-terriers, a big Persian cat, and that cat possessed a litter of kittens.

Her chosen nursery was the wheel-house, and Captain Duncan had humoured her, giving her a box for her kittens and threatening the quartermasters with all manner of dire fates did they so much as step on one of the kittens.
But Michael knew nothing of this.

And the big Persian knew of his existence before he did of hers.

In fact, the first he knew was when she launched herself upon him out of the open wheel-house doorway.