Dick was surprised when, on descending to the deck, he found that what seemed to him a by no means very difficult feat had attracted general attention.

Not only did half a dozen of the sailors pat him on the back, with exclamations expressive of their surprise and admiration, but the other midshipmen spoke quite as warmly, the eldest saying: "I could have got up the rope, Holland, but I could not have gone up straight, as you did, without stopping for a bit to take breath.

You don't look so very strong, either." "I think that it is knack more than strength," Dick replied.

"I have done a lot of practice at climbing, for I have always wanted to get strong, and I heard that there was no better exercise." When, presently, Dick went aft to the quarterdeck, Captain Barstow said to him: "You have astonished us all, lad.

I could hardly believe my eyes, when I saw you going up that rope.