At length the night wore away. The violence of the storm seemed to have abated, for, after a time, the motion diminished. More enterprising than the rest of the passengers, Harry resolved to go on deck. “Won’t you come with me, Mr. Clinton?” he asked. “I--I couldn’t, ‘pon my honor. I’m as weak as a rag. I don’t think I could get out of my berth, really, now.” “I’ll go with you, my young friend,” said Mr. Stubbs. Harry and his Yankee friend set foot cautiously on deck. The prospect was not reassuring. The ship rolled heavily, and from the creaking it seemed that the timbers of the hull were strained. The sailors looked fagged out, and there was a set, stern look on the face of the captain, whom, nevertheless, Mr. Stubbs ventured to accost. “What’s the prospect, captain?” he asked. “You’d better make your will,” said the captain, grimly. “That’s cheerful,” commented Stubbs, turning to Harry. “Yes, sir,” answered Harry, soberly. “Don’t tell our foppish friend below, or he’ll rend our ears with his howls. But you, my young friend, it’s rather rough on you. How old are you?” “Sixteen.” “And I’m rising fifty. Even if I am taken away, I’ve a good thirty years the advantage of you. I’ve had a good time, on the whole, and enjoyed myself as well as the average. Still, I don’t quite like going to the bottom in the Nantucket. I was looking forward to at least twenty years or so more of life.” “We must submit to the will of God,” said Harry. “You are quite right, my boy! It is easy to see that you have been well trained. Mr. Holdfast”--for they had reached the place where the mate was standing--“shall we outlive the storm?” “It is hard to say, Mr. Stubbs. It depends on the stanchness of the ship. We’ll do all we can.” Ten minutes later there was a sinister answer to the inquiry of Mr. Stubbs. A sailor, who had been sent down into the hold, came with the information that the ship had sprung a leak. Then commenced the weary work at the pumps. The sailors were already worn out with fighting the storm under the direction of the captain and mate, and it seemed almost more than flesh and blood could stand to undertake the additional labor. Harry and Mr. Stubbs had a hurried conference. “Can’t we help at this work, Mr. Stubbs?” asked Harry. “The poor men look utterly exhausted.” “Well thought of, my boy! I am with you. I will speak to the captain.” But Mr. Holdfast, the mate, chanced to be nearer, and to him Mr. Stubbs put the question: “Can’t I help at the pumps?” “And I, too, Mr. Holdfast,” put in Harry. “I accept your offer with thanks. The men are very tired.” So Harry and Mr. Stubbs helped at this necessary work, and when the professor and the Melbourne merchant heard of it they, too, volunteered. But Marmaduke Timmins, the valetudinarian, and Montgomery Clinton felt quite inadequate to the task.