the skipper of the merchant , a captain billings , was none too pleased to see me , sailors ' superstitions about women on board being bad luck and all , but he cheered up considerably when , upon gaining the deck by way of the ladder that was lowered down to me , i curtsied low to him and announced that i could pay for my passage , and `` maybe a little extra if you big strong men could stow my dear little boat aboard . ''