o the water. It has thus kept the boat's head to the
seas, and prevented it from swamping. The lee-pump was kept going
continually, and that was hard work. Two men at a time were at the
handle. The bark was badly strained and leaking considerably. At one
time we thought all the water was pumped out, but that was a mistake on
our part. The pump had commenced sucking, and no water was coming up.
The fact of no air hissing as usual seemed rather strange. The upper
box was taken out, and then an iron hook lowered down for the lower box.
When that was hauled up, the mystery was explained. About a pint of
nicely water-soaked beans was holding the clapper down. By using the
sounding rod, we found about fourteen inches of water below. The pump
was rigged again and started, and in a few more minutes it was the same
old trouble--more beans! The process of drawing the boxes was gone over
again. The same result followed--more beans! A barrel of that edible
fruit had broken open in the cargo, and every individual bean had found
its way to the pump-well. The comments were loud and deep, and the man
who invented beans was damned in all styles in several different
languages.

Well, there was nothing else to do but pump the beans out on the
instalment plan. Just as soon as a certain quantity got on top of the
valve or clapper, it acted effectually as an automatic shut-off for the
water. The hurricane had been blowing for three days and our worst
danger--the terror of all sailors--was close at hand. We were drifting
towards the Florida reefs. A few hours more and the ship, with all
hands, would be a thing of the past. There was no possibility of escape
unless the gale abated or the wind shifted to another direction. Birds
by the hundreds were flying for our vessel. They were land birds of all
kinds and sizes, probably blown to sea from Cuba. Striking the rigging
or any part of the vessel, they would be instantly killed. Every nook
and corner on the deck was filled with their dead bodies. The wind blew
them around like so much dust. One was found in the compass-box, under
the compass. Its presence was made known by the smell of a decaying body
after the storm was over. The anchor-chain boxes had a fine assortment
sandwiched in between the big iron links. Those we could not get out
and, consequently, the odour was anything but pleasant in that locality.
The sea had changed in colour from green to a milky white. This showed
that we were get