436 CRAZY STATE OF THE SHIP. [CHAP. VI. 



minutes, out of the four hours of each watch, to 

 keep the ship free. In fact she was becoming 

 daily more sodden and heavy, as was proved by 

 her diminished rate of sailing, which now, under 

 every advantage of wind and sea, never exceeded 

 five knots an hour. Generally, however, she 

 averaged from two to three, and in moderate 

 weather with any swell still less. 



August 18th. The keel chain having been 

 slackened, owing probably to the working of the 

 damaged part, was again hove tight with the cap- 

 stan. The effect of this was soon shown, for the 

 shores and fastenings below, where the carpenter 

 of the watch was stationed, were observed by him 

 to be set firm, thus proving beyond all doubt the 

 loosened state of the under portion of the ship. 

 Thus patched up, while favoured with moderate 

 weather, we made reasonable progress ; but dur- 

 ing any abatement of the breeze, the rolling and 

 plunging of the ship excited much anxiety, for 

 the leaks still gained, and the altered appearance 

 of the crew plainly evinced the change that was 

 taking place, from their incessant labour. Nor 

 could it be concealed that the quantity of water 

 always rushing backward and forward below, was 

 beginning to affect the equilibrium of the ship, 

 which now visibly heeled over to starboard. The 

 favourable conjunction of circumstances which 

 had carried us thus far without any squall or 



