Presently Andy and the mulatto returned, having found and secured a supply of the precious fluid.
"The fore-hold and the engine-room are flooded," reported the former, "and I think there's a hole on the starboard quarter. But I believe there's some of the crew up for'ard—I heard them groaning."
"Let's go and see," replied Ellerton, buckling on a lifebelt and picking up a lantern.
"Be careful, lads," cautioned Mr. McKay.
"Trust us," answered Andy, likewise putting on a belt. "We need not wait for Terence."
"Why, it's not half so rough," he continued as they gained the deck, which had settled to a list of less than ten degrees, and no longer lifted as the rollers swept past. "See, very few of the waves break over the ship."
"It's a bad job those cowardly beggars pushed off," replied Ellerton. "They would have done better to have waited. But listen!"
Above the moaning of the wind came the unmistakable sound of a groan.
"It's down there," exclaimed Andy, pointing to a battened-down hatchway.
"There's no harm in opening it now," replied his companion, casting off the lashings and unbolting the heavy iron slide. "Now, then, down you go."