He lay for awhile and stared at the moonlight; and by degrees he made out that it was pouring through a rent in the galley's side.

Then he turned his head and lifted himself a little to see what it was on which his head rested.

It was the dead body of one of the three overseers, who had been killed almost by the first shot fired by the frigate.
He pulled himself up and crept towards the bench; then put a hand down to his feet.

The ring was there, but no chain.

Next he felt along the bench with a wish--quite stupid--to get back to his seat.
His comrades were still lying on their faces.