(Sorry for the wait, I have no ideas, XD)

Watson scratched the back of his head. "He seems to be running a loy of errands, hm?" He noticed. "What're the chances of him coming back off anytime soon, do you think?"

Sherlock looks at Watson, "Don't you have your wallet with you? Why not pay the boy to deliever a message to the person on the ship? Mr. Anderson perphaps?"
The boy runs back towards them stopping short of the crates, "You called?"

Watson decided it was better to go along with that, and reached into his pocket. "Why not? Just a moment..."

The boy waits paciently almost eagerly, "So what do you need me to do for you?"
'Is there a man held prisoner on that ship," Sherlock asks.
The boy looks around quickly, "I think so his name is Mr. Alec Anderson. I can't do much to help him and the police don't believe me about this because he supposivly doesn't exist. I can't sneak you aboard but I can get messages to him and from him."
"Do you know how to get on the ship without being noticed," Sherlock questions, "If so do you think we can?"
The boy looks at them, "Well I know I can because it requires a good deal of speed, stealth, and agility. You can get through by slipping into the water and swimming for the porthole, as long as the crew doesn't noitce (there have been a few close calls) you can get there if you can squeeze into the porthole. Or the other option is walk straight by the captain," At that he shutters, "which is not a good idea even if you dressed as a crewman. You'd have to be sneaky to get below deck that way."
"Or create a diverson. What do you say Watson which way?"

"Well, I don't think I can fit through a porthole without causing a stir, but I can draw attention." Watson responded.

Sherlock smiles before walking off, "Good luck I'll try to sneak by the captain then. Give me fifteen minutes then I'll be ready."

John gave a frim nod. "Best of luck to you 'swell." He responded before handing the kid a quarter pound*. "What'd you say your name was?"

(I think that was quite a bit back then? Like, ten dollars today? I dunno.)

(That sounds right)

"Jonathan," The boy answers, "Thank you by the way Dr. Watson."

Sherlock sneaks away and gets ready before signaling fro Watson to provide the distraction.

(The bad thing about Sherlock is that it's set in the one historical era I know almost nothing about culturally. Were people converned about rabid dogs back then?)

John waved him off, then glanced at the ground. "Diversion, diversion..." He mumbled under his breath. He paused as an idea struck him, then turned away from the ship. "Oi! That dog about ran me over!!" He exclaimed.