"Well, what do you make of it, Gar'ner?" Daggett demanded, a little
impatiently. "Water there must be; for no craft that floats could have
stood such a squeeze, and not have her sides open."
"There must be near three feet of water in your hold," answered Roswell,
shaking his head. "If this goes on, Captain Daggett, it will be hard work
to keep your schooner afloat!"
"Afloat she shall be, while a pump-break can work. Here, rig this larboard
pump at once, and get it in motion."
"It is possible that your seams opened under the nip, and have closed
again, as soon as the schooner got free. In such a case, ten minutes at
the pump will let us know it."
Although there is no duty to which seamen are so averse as pumping--none,
perhaps, that is actually so exhausting and laborious--it of
