But my tour of the _Gannet_ was by no means finished, my mentor evidently meaning to make me thoroughly acquainted with the ship.  Below the orlop deck we went, passing down a steep ladder to the flats, or part of the ship immediately above the ballast.  The amidship portion of this space is termed the cockpit, and, though nearly empty, it did not require much imagination on my part to see the forms of mangled seamen dimly outlined in the feeble glimmer of the lantern, young Drake telling me of some of the ghastly sights of the cockpit during action in a highly-worded and realistic style.