A certain amount of tremor had troubled the lad as he climbed out, and the thought of having a slip did once bring the perspiration out upon his forehead; but the effort needed dulled the fear, and he soon stood where he was in safety.
But to listen to a companion undergoing the same trial in the darkness was another thing; and Vince felt ten times the dread as he listened and shivered to hear the ring-bolt seized and his companion slowly drawing himself upward so that he could stand.
Suppose he lost his nerve--suppose he slipped and tell with a splash into that black, spangled water--what could he do?
Poor Mike would be swept away directly, and his only chance of life would be for him to swim steadily till he reached the rocks, and then try to find one to which he could cling, and draw himself up.
But Vince did better than think: he tightened his grasp of the bulwark rail by crooking his hand, and softly extended one leg over the streak.
This had the effect he desired.

The next moment it was struck by a hand feeling about.

Then the trouser was tugged at, and directly after the bottom was turned over and over, so as to form a good roll to grip.
Then, with this for a second hand-hold, Mike was helped, and his climb on to the shelf-like projection became easier for the aid afforded, and he too rose to stand panting beside Vince.
They felt that everything depended upon their coolness, and hence they stood there, facing inward, holding on to the bulwark and listening.
But all was still; and at last, satisfied that it was time to move, Vince whispered "Now," and began to edge himself along to the right-- that is, towards the forward part of the boat.
Mike started at the same moment, taking step for step, their hands touching at every movement.

It was an easy enough task this, for there was plenty of hold and standing room--the only danger being that they might be heard by some one on the watch, while there was the chance that they had been heard and this was a new trap to re-catch them.
But their hearts rose as they crept slowly and silently along in the silence, and then went down deeply into a sense of despair, for a thought suddenly struck Vince which made him stop and place his lips close to his companion's ear, and whisper,-- "Suppose, as Joe is going to stop, they have hoisted the boat on deck ?" Mike replied promptly, and with a decision that was admirable under the circumstances,-- "Don't make bugbears.

Go on and try." It was rude enough to have brought forth a sharp retort at any other time; but then Vince felt its justice, and he went on again, and his hand touched the shrouds which held the mainmast in place, and a little care had to be exercised to pass round.