“You are right, Mrs Rumbelow,” whispered Mrs Morley, as the sergeant’s wife knelt by her side within the little tent. “Does any one think that the ship is still afloat?”
“That’s more than any one can say, marm. Ships have floated when all on board supposed that they were going down. That must be our hope, marm; and now, Mrs Morley, and you, dear young ladies, take my advice, and try and go to sleep and forget all about it, or you’ll wear yourselves out. It’s the men’s business to look after the boat and us. We must trust to them, and still more to One in heaven, who will take care of us all.”
These remarks were made by Mrs Rumbelow as she was endeavouring to place the young ladies and their mother in the most comfortable position she could select in the narrow space allotted to them.
In the meantime, the boat ran on as before amid the raging seas; several had broken partially on board, and four hands were kept continually bailing, to get rid of the water which thus got into her.
“There is another spare sail for’ard,” observed Willy Dicey to Harry. “Don’t you think we can manage to nail it on round the stern and quarters? I saw some tools put into the boat, and one of the carpenter’s mates is with us.”
“Your advice is good, and we will follow it,” answered Harry: and Willy made his way for’ard to look for the sail. It was soon found; and the carpenter’s mate, with the assistance of Paul Lizard and Willy, who prided himself on his skill as a carpenter, quickly sawed out several stanchions. These were at once screwed on so as to raise the gunwale nearly two feet all round the after-part of the boat. Scarcely had the canvas been securely fixed when a heavier sea than ordinary came rolling up, hissing and roaring as if about to overwhelm her. Many gazed at it with dismay. It struck the stern; no small amount of water broke over the counter. The heavier mass, however, was prevented from coming in; and the boat flew on with greater speed, as if to escape from the danger which threatened her.
“Willy, your forethought has saved our lives, I fully believe,” observed Harry, as he, with others, began baling away with might and main.
Mrs Rumbelow, who at that instant made her appearance from the cabin, followed their example, having seized a saucepan at her feet. Another and another sea followed.
“Bale away, my lads! bale away!” cried Mrs Rumbelow. “We will try if we cannot send the water out as fast as it comes in.”
Her courage inspired the men, who now and then stopped, believing that all their efforts to preserve their lives would prove useless. The boat was quickly again clear of water, and several minutes passed without a sea having struck her. Harry began to hope that once more the gale was abating. He now, remembering that the people might be suffering from want of food, ordered provisions to be served out.