We heard one say they were pumping one hundred tons of water every hour out of the ship. It sounded appalling.
In a little while a light breeze began to blow. "From the south-west," somebody said it was.
And then we heard the captain give an order about "making all sail" in the ship.
Every man that could be spared from the pumps set about it directly; and soon great sails flew up flapping in the breeze, and the May Queen went flying before the wind.
By-and-by Dr. Atherton came, and ordered us down to the saloon, and made us each drink a glass of wine. And then Mr. Wheeler joined us; and we sat down to supper just as we had done many a happy evening before—only that the captain didn't come to the table as usual, but had his supper carried away to him.
We learned that the captain had altered the ship's course, and "put the May Queen right before the wind," and that he was "steering for the nearest land."
It comforted us.
"We have gained a little on the leak," the first mate said. "Three inches!"
"Only three inches!" we cried.
"Three inches is a great victory," Mr. Wheeler replied. "I think it's the turn of the tide."