ld fore-yard, and the
topgallant one be transferred into a topsail-yard.

Mr Marline seemed rather proud of his handiwork; so, this made him more
conversational than anyone I had yet tried to talk to.

"Ha, Tom," he said, "you're just in time to see us cross our yards
again--not a bad job, eh?"

"No, sir," I replied; "have you been long over it?"

"Ever since daylight."

"And have all of you been equally busy?" I asked.

"Bless you, yes! As for Cuffee, he roused out poor Moggridge early in
the middle watch, to help him to fix the galley, bribing him with the
promise of some hot coffee. That started the hands; for, the boatswain
must needs hail Adze to see after the pumps, and hearing them stirring
about, I came on deck and employed the idlers in getting the spars
alongside, as the sea was as calm as a pond. Then, I set them to work
unreeving the gear and making things snug for setting up our jury-masts,
of which this is the first--a downright seamanlike piece of work I call
it."

"So it is, sir," said I to please him, seeing him looking up at the new
foremast admiringly; "and, I suppose, Mr Marline, when you've finished
rigging this, you'll begin setting up a new mainmast."

"Aye, my boy, and a mizzen too after that! You shall see the old
barquey spreading her canvas bravely again before I have done with her."

Presently, Adze called out that he had made the pumps act at last.

This brought down Captain Miles from the poop; when, a party of the
sailors at once setting to work, the bilge-water soon rose from below
and flowed in a stream in the scuppers.

Half an hour's spell served to make the pumps suck dry, showing that the
main hold of the ship was clear; and, seeing this, the captain turned
round and hailed Mr Marline with a triumphant shout.

"There, Marline," he cried, "what do you think of that, eh? Who was
right and who was wrong?"

"Well, sir, you were a true prophet this time," replied the first mate
equally well pleased at the result, although it went against his own
prognostication; "I only hope you'll get the fore-peak free as easily;
for, then, we'll float on an even keel."

"All right, my boy, so we will," said Captain Miles; and he then ordered
the hands to bend the end of the hose down into the forepart of the ship
below that part of the forecastle where the men bunked, the other end of
the hose being attached to the pump cylinder.

This job was a heavier one than that of clearing