el. The mate was peering round him in despair at the ruin which
had come so suddenly upon them when he found Captain Ephraim at his
elbow, half clad, but as wooden and as serene as ever.

"An iceberg," said he, sniffing at the chill air. "Did you not smell
it, friend Tomlinson?"

"Truly I found it cold, Captain Savage, but I set it down to the mist."

"There is a mist ever set around them, though the Lord in His wisdom
knows best why, for it is a sore trial to poor sailor men. She makes
water fast, Mr. Tomlinson. She is down by the bows already."

The other watch had swarmed upon deck and one of them was measuring the
well. "There is three feet of water," he cried, "and the pumps sucked
dry yesterday at sundown."

"Hiram Jefferson and John Moreton to the pumps!" cried the captain.
"Mr. Tomlinson, clear away the long-boat and let us see if we may set
her right, though I fear that she is past mending."

"The long-boat has stove two planks," cried a seaman.

"The jolly-boat, then?"

"She is in three pieces."

The mate tore his hair, but Ephraim Savage smiled like a man who is
gently tickled by some coincidence.

"Where is Amos Green?"

"Here, Captain Ephraim. What can I do?"

"And I?" asked De Catinat eagerly. Adele and her father had been
wrapped in mantles and placed for shelter in the lee of the round house.

"Tell him he can take his spell at the pumps," said the Captain to Amos.
"And you, Amos, you are a handy man with a tool. Get into yonder
long-boat with a lantern and see if you cannot patch her up."

For half an hour Amos Green hammered and trimmed and caulked, while the
sharp measured clanking of the pumps sounded above the dash of the seas.
Slowly, very slowly, the bows of the brigantine were settling down, and
her stern cocking up.

"You've not much time, Amos, lad," said the captain quietly.

"She'll float now, though she's not quite water-tight."

"Very good. Lower away! Keep up the pump in there! Mr. Tomlinson, see
that provisions and water are ready, as much as she will hold. Come
with me, Hiram Jefferson."

The seaman and the captain swung themselves down into the tossing boat,
the latter with a lantern strapped to his waist. Together they made
their way until they were under her mangled bows. The captain shook his
head when he saw the extent of the damage.

"Cut away the foresail and pass it over," said he.

Tomlinson and Amos Green cut away the lashings with their kn