"It is the first rudder she ever had."
"And it's five years since she has been on the hard or in a dry dock?"
"Five years since she got a good overhauling."
"It is my opinion, sir, that anyone would pass that rudder by sight until it began to give, which can't be longer ago than a few days."
"What do you propose doing?"
"Well, sir, I'd say the best thing would be to wedge it taut inside the cap-iron. What do you think, sir?"
"You couldn't fish it?"
"No, sir, in no way; there's no room."
"I think you're right, Mr. Carpenter. There is no other way but to wedge it. Do you think it will hold?"
"Yes, sir, I think it will. We'll lash it in with half-inch as far as we can below the iron, and then we'll wedge it inside the iron. That'll hold it," said the carpenter confidently.