These decks were bolted down
and secured with thumb-screws to beams which fitted into sockets under
the gunwale; and when the whole was once fixed each section contributed
to keep all immovably in place. The decking being but light it was not
difficult to fix, and in an hour after the order was given to launch the
boats, the launch and pinnace were in the water alongside, and the gigs
hanging at the davits ready to lower away at a moment's notice.

Thanks also to Captain Staunton's never-ceasing care with regard to the
boats, they were all in perfect condition, and not leaky as baskets, as
are too many boats when required to be lowered upon an unexpected
emergency. The gigs and the launch were regularly half-filled with
water every morning before the decks were washed down, and emptied at
the conclusion of that ceremony; while the pinnace, which was stowed
bottom-up in the launch, was liberally soused with water at the same
time. In addition to this the proper complement of oars and rowlocks,
the stretchers, boat-hook, mop, baler, anchor, rudder, yoke, and tiller,
together with the compass, masts, and sails, were always stowed in the
boat to which they belonged, and were carefully overhauled once every
week under the skipper's own eye.

Thus, on the present occasion, there was none of that bewildered running
about and searching high and low for the boats' gear; it was all at hand
and ready for use whenever it might be wanted; there was nothing
therefore to do but to make sure that each boat was amply provisioned.
This, the launch and pinnace being safely in the water, was Bob's next
task, to which he devoted himself coolly but with all alacrity.

The boats' water-breakers, which were slung, ready filled, between the
fore and after gallows, under two of the gigs (each breaker bearing
painted upon it the name of the boat to which it belonged), were cast
adrift and passed into their proper boats as they were lowered, and then
followed as large a quantity of provisions as could possibly be stowed
away without too much encumbering the movements of the occupants.

Meanwhile the scuppers had all been carefully plugged up, the decks
pierced, and all hands set to work with buckets, etcetera, to flood
them, and still the fire increased in volume. It was 11:30 p.m. by the
time that the boats were veered astern, fully equipped, and ready to
receive their human freight; and at midnight the main-mast fell, flames
at the same