o eat; meanwhile he would remain at the helm and
keep a look out. In half an hour they were at the pumps again. It took
a good while to get all the water out of her, as she was continuously
making a good deal, and that which had gone through the staved deck had
not quite drained through into the well. However, they felt that they
had got the upper hand, and would keep it, provided none of the
croppers levelled in upon her and smashed either the decks or the
hatches in.

As soon as the captain went below, and it was thought he was asleep,
the mate, who was a phlegmatic sort of person, went below also, and
left a man and a boy to do the pumping. At first they thought he had
gone to light his pipe, but as he was so long in making his appearance
again, one of them went into the cabin and found him in his berth fast
asleep. He was shaken for a long time before he showed signs of life,
and at last grunted out:

"All right. Don't worry. I'll be up directly."

He was reminded that he ought never to have been down, and that it was
no place for the mate of a leaky, or any other ship for that matter, on
such a night. The sailor then left him, and allowed an interval of half
an hour to pass, and as the worthy officer did not make his appearance,
he went below again, and found him slumbering as peacefully as before.
He threatened to do no more pumping if the mate did not get up and lend
a hand at once. Moreover, it was intimated to him that the skipper
would have to be called if he lay there skulking while other people
were being worked to death. This brought the mate out of his berth, but
he got no further than the after-lockers, where he sat down with the
object of lighting his pipe. Being comfortably seated, his head
gradually sank on to the table, and, with the pipe in one hand and the
matches in the other, he again became oblivious to the savage tumult
that raged above him. Again the sailor went to see why he did not come
up, and found him in the aforesaid position. This time he was not
roused; a plot had been arranged, and forthwith a large bucket of water
was taken below and thrown at him. He only shook himself, and murmured:

"She's the dirtiest beast that ever I was aboard of."

The second douse was flung quickly; he became confused, rushed into the
captain's berth, believing he was making his way on deck. He was asked
what was the matter, and replied excitedly:

"The skylight's stove in."

"Get it covered over," sa