Handing the fishermen their promised reward, Francis sprang up the ladder to the deck.

He was unnoticed, for other men had gone down into the boats for fish.
Mingling with the sailors, he gradually made his way to the hatchway leading into the hold, descended the ladder, and stowed himself away among a quantity of casks, some filled with wine and some with water, at the farther end of the hold; and as he lay there devoutly thanked God that his enterprise had been so far successful.
Men came down from time to time with lanterns, to stow away the lately-arrived stores, but none came near the place where Francis was hidden.

The time seemed long before he heard the clank of the capstan, and knew the vessel was being hove up to her anchors.

Then, after a while, he heard the creaking of cordage, and much trampling of feet on the deck above, and knew that she was under way.

Then he made himself as comfortable as he could, in his cramped position, and went off to sleep.
When he woke in the morning, the light was streaming down the hatch, which was only closed in rough weather, as it was necessary frequently to go down into it for water and stores.