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Rh "It's like cleaning out a house on fire," remarked Larry. "By the time the sailors get done throwing their things away I reckon we'll be as rich as any of them and no mistake."

"Well, they can't be too careful," answered Striker. "Splinters are awful things. I've heard tell that during the times they used to fight in nothing but wooden ships the men were worse wounded by flying bits of woodwork than they were by the shots themselves. If this stuff floats ashore, what a harvest them natives will reap!"

The woodwork disposed of, strong nettings of rope were stretched under the small boats on deck, also to keep possible splinters off, and then the deck was cleared of everything movable. The heavy chain cables were likewise coiled around the ammunition hoists, to give them additional protection, for a coiled chain cable will ward off a shot or shell just as well as will a moderately thick sheet of armor plate.