Their motions, precise, and exactly the same on both sides of the vessel, after a while became monotonous; and then he amused himself singling out individuals.

With his stylus he made note of objections, thinking, if all went well, he would find among the pirates of whom he was in search better men for the places.
There was no need of keeping the proper names of the slaves brought to the galleys as to their graves; so, for convenience, they were usually identified by the numerals painted upon the benches to which they were assigned.

As the sharp eyes of the great man moved from seat to seat on either hand, they came at last to number sixty, which, as has been said, belonged properly to the last bank on the left-hand side, but, wanting room aft, had been fixed above the first bench of the first bank.

There they rested.
The bench of number sixty was slightly above the level of the platform, and but a few feet away.

The light glinting through the grating over his head gave the rower fairly to the tribune's view--erect, and, like all his fellows, naked, except a cincture about the loins.