Lying along the side of the bulkhead, so as to get his ear to the hole, Francis listened, but could hear no sound within.

Then he put his mouth to the orifice and asked: "Are you all asleep there ?" Then he listened again.

Some of the men were speaking, and asking each other who it was that had suddenly spoken.

No one replied; and some of them gave vent to angry threats, against whoever it might be who had just disturbed them from going off to sleep.
Directly the voices ceased again, Francis said: "Let us have silence in there.

Where is Rinaldo, the boatswain ?" "I am here," a voice replied; "but who is speaking?
It sounds like the voice of Messer Hammond." "It is my voice, Rinaldo.