A little snippet set during my Manx Holiday story in response to a challenge. Can you pick out the phrase/ sentence / questions that was the challenge?

For Elennare - Transplanted from livejournal

The ship's engineer was the only one not to stand anchor watch. Without John, Susan had had to acknowledge that the "younger ones" were no longer quite so young. And, after all, with seven of them standing watch, everyone had at least half their nights with uninterrupted. Dick was therefore surprised when Roger's tousled head, rather than Nancy's red cap appeared up the companion way.
"I thought Nancy was relieving me."
"I expect she is. I'm going ashore."
"Does Susan know?"
"She's asleep."
"I'll be back well before breakfast."
"Where are you going?"
"For an ice cream."
"But there won't be anywhere open at this time. And I thought there wasn't anywhere in St Mary's anyway."
"That's why I'll have to crawl through the window." Roger grinned as he began his descent into the dinghy. "Oh, don't look like that Dick. I've been invited. It's not burglary."
At least Dick knew exactly where Roger was going. It would be crawling through the window, not climbing.
"Hey!" Dick whispered fiercely.
"You can't come with me. You're on watch."
"You can't just take the dinghy and leave us without one."
"There's the folder."
"That's no use. I'll row you across."
"You're meant to be on watch."
"I will be watching Sea Bear while I'm rowing the dinghy. I can wake Nancy up a bit early if you want?"
"You'd better row, if you insist on it. Keep an eye out for me about half past five though."
Dick grinned. "So you're back before Susan noticed you're not there? Look, bring some milk back with you. Or some bread or something. It might help."
"Good idea. Have you got sixpence?"
They nearly got away with it. Nancy was waiting on deck when Dick returned to the Sea Bear. At least Nancy would deal with things herself and not worry Susan before she had to.
"What do you two galoots think you're doing?"
"I've not got much idea myself, but I thought it was a bad idea to leave Sea Bear without her dinghy. Roger's gone to crawl through a window and eat icecream. He's been invited, he says."
" Barbequed billygoats! Who crawls through the window at 4am to eat ice cream?"
"Roger."