I can say is, that it's a precious good job that Mr Burnett
didn't chuck it a little further, for if he had it would have come right
down on Chips and drove him through the bottom, and we couldn't have
stopped a leak like that."

"But I should have come up again," said the carpenter, "just where I
went down, and as the hole I made would have been just the same size as
me, I should have fitted in quite proper."

"Yah!" growled the boatswain. "What's the use of trying to cut jokes at
a time like this? Look here, gentlemen, have we done our job to
rights?"

"As far as the gun's concerned," replied Fitz, "it's completely
disabled, and of no use again until they get another block."

"Then that's done, sir."

"And about my job," said Poole. "I am afraid the screw's not fouled,
for I fancy the gunboat is slowly steaming out to sea."

"Well, I don't see as how we can tell that, Mr Poole, sir," said the
boatswain. "I can't say as she's moving, for we are both in a sharp
current, and she may be only drifting; but seeing the way as you made
fast the end of that there cable, and then looped over bight after bight
round them there fans, and twistened it all up tight, it seems to me
that the screw must be fouled, and that every turn made it wuss and
wuss. I say that you made a fine job of that there, Mr Poole. What do
you say, Chips, my lad?"

"Splendid!" cried the carpenter.

"Why, it was you two did it," said Fitz.

"Well, that's what I thought, sir," said the carpenter; "but it was so
dark, I couldn't see a bit."

"Zackly," said the boatswain; "and you said it was your job, sir."

"Oh, nonsense!" cried Poole. "I meant yours."

"Well," said Fitz, "all I can say is that I hope your knots were good."

"I'll answer for mine," said the boatswain, "but I won't say nothing for
Chips here. He aren't much account unless it's hammers and spikes, or a
job at caulking or using his adze."

"That's right," said Chips, "but you might tell the young gents that I'm
handiest with a pot o' glue."

There was silence for a few moments, and then Fitz said--

"It's almost too much to expect that both things have turned out all
right; but I can't help believing they have."

"Well, sir," said the boatswain, "I do hope as that there cable is not
all twisted up in a bunch about them fans--reg'lar wound up tight--and
if it is there's no knowing where that there gunboat will drift during
the night; for I don't care how big a crew