he is surrounded by a mob of garrulous sailors , one of whom bears a length of rope , so i know what is going to happen next ... over the past week or so on the lorelei lee , it has become a tradition , an initiation , like , for each man to be taken down , such that he can place his grubby hands on the chest of my beautiful figurehead and so become full-fledged lorelei mates in good standing , all rights and privileges therewith appertaining and all that .