142 TROUBLE OF HEATING APPARATUS. 



pipes were again repaired and a volume of 

 hot salt-water having been driven with a forcing 

 pump from one extremity to the other, its 

 entire reparation was thought to be conclusively 

 established. The fire therefore was lighted, and, 

 as the warmth spread throughout the ship, it 

 was considered that all obstacles were finally over- 

 come, when suddenly, to our great and serious 

 disappointment, first the starboard side cooled 

 rapidly, and ten or twelve hours later the larboard 

 followed the example. The evil now began to 

 press on us the more heavily as our remedies 

 were failing ; for, not foreseeing nor imagining 

 such a succession of disasters, we had been sup- 

 plied only with such a quantity of mortar as might 

 be sufficient for making good any fracture in the 

 furnace, the whole of which was expended ; so 

 that it was necessary to leave it untouched until 

 some substitute could be discovered. As there 

 was reason to suppose that the pipes had become 

 foul or partially obstructed, I directed that a 

 stream of hot water should be forced through 

 the whole range of pipes for several hours with- 

 out interruption, and went myself to superintend 

 the operation. Half an hour's trial, without 

 visible result, convinced me that, to do anything 

 effectual, a part (at least) of the tedious con- 

 trivance must be unscrewed and examined, and 

 this, notwithstanding the confusion it would 



