e it the appearance of a large rug of great thickness.
Strong ropes are secured to the four corners; it is then dragged under
the ship's bottom, when, by the force of the water rushing in, it is
sucked into the leak, and although some water still finds its way
through, it is calculated greatly to impede its entrance. Happily there
came a lull, and during it the ropes were got over the ship's bows, and
dragged on until the part where the leak existed was reached, when the
thrummed sail was hauled under the bottom, and firmly secured.

A hundred more hands were now told off to bale at the different
hatchways with canvas buckets, which the sailmaker's crew and other men
had been employed in making to supplement the iron ones. Adair
anxiously watched the result of their labours.

"If the weather improves we shall do well yet," observed Green to the
first lieutenant.

"One does not see much prospect of that," was the answer.

The sky indeed was as gloomy as ever, the wind blew a perfect hurricane,
while the thick mist and spray which flew over the deck wetted every one
to the skin. As the hours went by there was no relaxation for the
hard-worked crew. The seamen and marines, engineers, and stokers, as
well as the officers, laboured away with but short intervals for rest.

No sooner were the men relieved, than, overcome by their exertions, they
threw themselves down on the deck and waited until it was their turn
again. The carpenter reported the water diminishing.

"We ought, howsumever, to have got more out of the ship by this time
than we have," he observed. "To my mind, there must be another leak
somewhere."

Adair feared that the carpenter was right, and Peter, hearing his
opinion, volunteered again to do down and grope about until he could
discover it. The same precautions were taken to save him from
destruction.

He persevered until he was so utterly exhausted that the doctor declared
him to be unfit again to go below. Though he had not succeeded, Adair
thanked him for his gallant conduct, and promised that it should not be
overlooked.

"Me berry happy, cap'n, if de ship get into harbour. No want reward,"
answered the brave negro.

Scarcely had the thrummed sail been got under the ship, than it began to
blow as hard as ever. Should the gale continue for many days longer,
all hope of saving the ship must be given up, and probably every soul on
board would perish. Adair did not conceal this from him