But the cost of the passage was more than the prudent Tiidu cared to pay , and though he played his best on his pipes , the captain refused to lower his price , and Tiidu was just thinking of returning on shore when his usual luck flew to his aid . A young sailor , who had heard him play , came secretly to him , and offered to hide him on board , in the absence of the captain . So the next night , as soon as it was dark , Tiidu stepped softly on deck , and was hidden by his friend down in the hold in a corner between two casks . Unseen by the rest of the crew the sailor managed to bring him food and drink , and when they were well out of sight of land he proceeded to carry out a plan he had invented to deliver Tiidu from his cramped quarters . At midnight , while he was keeping watch and everyone else was sleeping , the man bade his friend Tiidu follow him on deck , where he tied a rope round Tiidu 's body , fastening the other end carefully to one of the ship 's ropes . ` Now , ' he said , ' I will throw you into the sea , and you must shout for help ; and when you see the sailors coming untie the rope from your waist , and tell them that you have swum after the ship all the way from shore . ' At first Tiidu did not much like this scheme , for the sea ran high , but he was a good swimmer , and the sailor assured him that there was no danger . As soon as he was in the water , his friend hastened to rouse his mates , declaring that he was sure that there was a man in the sea , following the ship . They all came on deck , and what was their surprise when they recognised the person who had bargained about a passage the previous day with the captain . ` Are you a ghost , or a dying man ? ' they asked him trembling , as they stooped over the side of the ship . ' I shall soon indeed be a dead man if you do not help me , ' answered Tiidu , ` for my strength is going fast . ' Then the captain seized a rope and flung it out to him , and Tiidu held it between his teeth , while , unseen by the sailors ; he loosed the one tied round his waist . ` Where have you come from ? ' said the captain , when Tiidu was brought up on board the ship . ' I have followed you from the harbour , ' answered he , ` and have been often in sore dread lest my strength should fail me . I hoped that by swimming after the ship I might at last reach Kungla , as I had no money to pay my passage . ' The captain 's heart melted at these words , and he said kindly : ` You may be thankful that you were not drowned . I will land you at Kungla free of payment , as you are so anxious to get there . So he gave him dry clothes to wear , and a berth to sleep in , and Tiidu and his friend secretly made merry over their cunning trick .
For the rest XXXXX the voyage the ship 's crew treated Tiidu as something higher than themselves , seeing that in all their lives they had never met with any man that could swim for as many hours as he had done .
about as from if of on than that though to