OF THE SOUTH SEAS 173 



every minute. We left the ropes for the pumps and 

 the pumps for the ropes. We double-reefed the miz- 

 zen, and in the wind this was a terrible job. It nearly 

 killed us. At eight o'clock to-night we could not see 

 five feet ahead of us. It was black as hell, and the 

 schooner rolled fearfully. The deck-load then shifted 

 eight inches to starboard. This made a list that fright- 

 ened us. We were all soaking wet now for days. The 

 after-house separated from the main-deck, and the water 

 became six feet deep in the cabin. 



"We had no sun at all during the day, and at midnight 

 a hurricane came out of the dark. All night we were 

 pulling and hauling, running along the great logs in 

 danger always of being washed away. We had to lash 

 the lumber, tightening the chains, and tiying to stop the 

 logs from smashing the ship to pieces. It did not seem 

 that we could get through the night. 



"This is Friday. When a little of daylight came, 

 we saw that everything was awash. The sea was white 

 as snow, all foam and spindrift. It did not seem that 

 we could last much longer. The small boat that had 

 been hanging over the stern was gone. It had been 

 smashed by the combers. We should have had it in- 

 board, and the mate was to blame. Now we took the 

 other boat, the only one left, and lashed it upright to 

 the spanker-stays. In this way it was above the logs 

 and had a chance to remain unbroken. 



"We sounded the well, and the captain ordered us 

 again to the pumps. These were on deck between the 

 logs, which were crashing about. We could n't work 

 the pumps, as there was seven feet of water in there on 

 deck. The second mate spoke to the captain that it 



