The Voyage of the Norman D.
And that was true: for really I liked to climb around even better than I dared admit at first. I climbed many times upon the top of the deckhouse and on to the spanker boom, I walked stealthily and cautiously along the bulwarks, I talked a bit with two of the sailors who were waiting for one of the carts before they began loading again; I laid my hand longingly upon the shrouds. But, though I had plenty of courage, and a lot left over, to climb, I had not quite the courage to ask permission, since I felt sure that I should not be allowed. At last, after I had explored around a bit, after I had taken hold of the vast, hand-worn spokes of the wheel, after I had examined the compass in the binnacle—I went up tothe captain and said: "I don't suppose you would let me go up into the rigging, would you?"
"Sure!" he replied, "only stick to the ladder, see? Don't go off the rope ladder—and hold on tight."
"Oh, don't worry," I answered. "I most likely shan't get up very far." And I ran to the starboard mizzen rigging.
There Mother accosted me: "Oh, don't go up there! You scare me to death." I overlooked her entirely, and laid my hand upon the shrouds. Upon the shrouds! I felt a little thrill go through my hand. Next minute I was over the taffrail. "You don't dare, do you?" she continued. "Watch me and
