"Mr. Redfox, I tell you plainly it's a foolhardy game you are playing
with that boy," said the helmsman earnestly. "If anything happens to
him you'll answer for it on a charge of criminal carelessness at the
first port we put into."

"Wait till you get a chance," growled the officer to Green; to Willy he
said, "Go on up."

Willy crossed himself, then swung himself without fear up on the rope
ladder leading from the side of the vessel to the crow's nest. Right
after him followed Redfox. With anger and fear Green watched how the
wind blew Willy's blonde hair and the officer's red beard; for a moment
the two disappeared behind the sails, then they appeared scaling the
topmost ladder. The wind had increased; the vessel tipped still more
to the side. Willy clambered on courageously higher and higher up, but
the real danger was yet to come.

"Now see, he is astride the yard sliding out fully twelve feet from the
main mast--now he is loosening the rope by which the top-sail is
fastened to the arm! Redfox ought to do that himself," said the
helmsman to himself. "But no, he forces the boy before him out on the
yard, orders him to stand up and unfasten the rope. The inhuman
wretch!--That means the boy's death. It is no easy task even for an
experienced seaman. And he is not even holding him by the belt, only
by the bottom part of his jacket.----Now he is holding him tighter.
There----O holy Mother of God the boy is falling!" Green closed his
eyes for a moment and gasped. "No, he is sliding along the yard. Hold
fast, Willy, hold fast for two or three minutes. I'll come to help
you."