68 THE WHALEMAN S ADVENTURES. 



With such an intense fire over a wooden 

 deck and frame for weeks together, and, with 

 tarred cordage and canvass above, both of 

 which would burn like tinder, it may seem 

 strange that so few ships take fire. Close atten- 

 tion and untiring vigilance can alone prevent 

 it. If the "pen" under the works, which 

 should be kept full of water, happen to 

 spring a leak in the night without being ob- 

 served, a short time only would be sufficient 

 to envelop the ship in flames. Sometimes, 

 too, a pot full of boiling oil will burst with- 

 out any apparent cause, and let its contents 

 into the fire beneath. Several ships have 

 been destroyed by such an accident. 



Frequently the oil in a pot rises at once and 

 boils over, communicating fire to the others: 

 this is generally checked by means of covers 

 which are kept at hand to smother the flame ; 

 but, though not an uncommon occurrence, it is 

 attended with considerable danger. The colour 

 of the oil depends much upon the mode of 

 boiling it. Unless the pots are kept perfectly 

 clean, and no sediment permitted to adhere to 



