438 CASCADE IN BREAD-ROOM. £CHAP.V. 



to such an extent, that it seemed almost impos- 

 sible to keep the ship from filling. The heel 

 chains being found slack, were again about to be 

 set up, when it was ascertained that the screw 

 ring-bolt fixed in the outer dead-wood on the 

 larboard side had been carried away, so that the 

 loosening; of the chain was not to be wondered 

 at. It was, therefore, hauled up, while the 

 remaining one, on which alone we had now to 

 depend, was set as tight as possible. Still the 

 water rushed violently in below, more especially 

 about the stern-post and heel-hook ; and oozing 

 through different parts higher up, fell like a 

 cascade into the bread-room and ' run.' Two 

 more screw ring-bolts were now driven into each 

 side of the heel-knee, which was secured by a 

 lashing of eighteen turns of two-and-a-half inch 

 rope, while, apprehensive that further injury had 

 been sustained about the keel, another length of 

 chain was passed under the bottom, and set well 

 tight to a part of itself across the after-part of the 

 quarter deck. The ship was becoming exces- 

 sively uneasy ; for the unabated fury of the gale, 

 strengthened by squalls, raised a long breaking 

 sea, in which she plunged so heavily, that it was 

 often unusually long before she recovered her- 

 self. It was evident she was hourly getting 

 more water-logged, and the straining and creak- 

 ing of her whole frame, the working of the 



