I climbed up very near to the main-top, but not without missing the little ropes very often, and grazing the skin of my shins.

Then I came to large ropes stretched out from the mast, so that you must climb them with your head backwards.

The midshipman told me these were called the cat-harpings, because they were so difficult to climb, that a cat would expostulate if ordered to go out by them.

I was afraid to venture, and then he proposed that I should go through lubber's hole, which he said had been made for people like me.

I agreed to attempt it, as it appeared more easy, and at last arrived, quite out of breath, and very happy to find myself in the main-top.
The captain of the main-top was there with two other sailors.