at all hazards, and every one who could be spared from the
pumps was sent to the capstan or windlass, and at length, after a stay of
twenty-three hours on the rocks, she was hove into deep water. Now,
however, it was a case of all hands to the pumps, and for a time it
seemed as if they were slowly gaining on the in-rushing water, but
suddenly there was an increase reported in the well, casting a shadow of
gloom over all, but not for an instant staying the steady beat of the
pumps. Shortly it was discovered that a fresh hand had been sent to the
well and had sounded from a different mark than his predecessor,
accounting for the sixteen to eighteen inches difference in the depth of
water reported. This discovery acted like a charm: each one redoubled his
exertions, and by morning they had gained considerably on the leak, so
sail was made, and they slowly crawled in towards the land.

Midshipman Monkhouse had been on a ship which was leaking at the rate of
forty-eight inches per hour, and had seen the operation called
"fothering" so successfully performed on her, that, without further
repair, she had sailed from Virginia to London. This being brought to
Cook's ear, he gave Monkhouse the charge of carrying out a similar
experiment. A studding sail was taken, on which oakum and wool was
lightly sewn and smothered with dirt; it was then lowered over the bows
and dragged by ropes over the place where the worst of the leak was
situated, and there secured, with the result, according to Banks, that in
a quarter of an hour after it was in position they were able to pump the
ship clear, and Cook says one pump was sufficient to keep her free.

Of the conduct of the crew, Cook says:

"In justice to the ship's company, I must say that no men ever behaved
better than they have done on this occasion; animated by the behaviour of
every Gentleman on board, every man seem'd to have a just sense of the
Danger we were in, and exerted himself to the very utmost."

Banks adds his testimony:

"Every man exerts his utmost for the preservation of the ship. The
officers during the whole time never gave an order that did not show them
to be perfectly composed and unmoved by the circumstances, however
dreadful they might appear."

A point off which the reef was situated was given the suggestive name of
Cape Tribulation, and some small islands near, Hope Islands, because, as
Cook says, he hoped, at the time of their greatest danger, they might