What a height it seems up here! If a fellow slipped and fell, he would never have another hour up at the mast-head." I went on downward, with my legs feeling more and more stiff, and a sense of heavy weariness growing upon me.

My head ached too, and I felt a pain at the back of my neck, while mentally I was as miserable and dissatisfied as ever I remember being in my life.
"I hope he'll send old Barkins up next time," I thought.

"He wouldn't feel so precious jealous then.

Nice job, squinting through that glass till one's almost blind, and nothing but bullying for the result." It seemed to be a very long way down to the deck, but I reached the remaining few rattlins at last, and I was nearly down to the bulwarks, meaning to go below and bathe my head, if I could leave the deck, when I was stopped short, just in my most gloomy and despondent moments, by the captain's voice, his words sounding so strange that I could hardly believe my ears.
For, as I held on to the shrouds, and looked sharply aft at the mention of my name, he said-- "Thank you, Mr Herrick; very good indeed;" while, as I reached the deck, Mr Reardon came up-- "Yes, capital, Mr Herrick.

A very arduous task, and you have done it well.".