Isles of the sea; or, Young America homeward bound : $b A story of travel and adventureOptic, Oliver
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Isles of the sea; or, Young America homeward bound : $b A story of travel and adventure
Optic, Oliver
Seafaring life -- Juvenile fiction
Mr. Rimmer intended to do the job in a much more thorough manner than
he had at first proposed, for the reason that he found the materials
for it on board. He proceeded to splice the broken ribs, and then to
plank them over, as the work would have been done in a ship-yard. A
stage was rigged, and lowered over the side; and, while the carpenter
was getting out his stock, his assistants removed the broken planking.
The heavy rolling of the vessel interfered very much with operations on
the stage; but the workmen were very zealous, and made good progress in
spite of all the disadvantages.
In the mean time Mr. Frisbone and the rest of the ship’s company were
preparing to right the steamer, and pump the water out of her, as soon
as this work could be undertaken. The steam-pump was put in good order;
and every thing about the vessel was restored to its usual condition,
so far as it was possible to do so.
In the afternoon the wind abated almost to a calm, and a boat came from
the Tritonia to pay the steamer a visit. Mr. Marline was in it, with
one of the stewards who had been a ship-carpenter. Both of them went
to work with Mr. Rimmer, and before dark the hole was planked over. As
there were some indications of bad weather again, the Tritonia’s boat
returned, and Mr. Rimmer and his assistants proceeded to calk the seams
by the light of the lanterns. By midnight the job was completed, even
to coppering the part below the water-line.
Before eight bells in the evening, the ship’s company had been divided
into two watches, as in the merchant service. One watch had turned
in at eight bells; but all hands were called at midnight, when the
repairs were finished. At this time the steam-pump was started, and
it discharged the water at a very rapid rate. Mr. Rimmer followed the
water as it receded in the hold, to ascertain if there was any leak in
the bottom; but none was found.
The steamer had for a cargo the parts of an iron bridge, and the labels
upon them indicated that it was consigned to a firm in Barcelona. One
of the heaviest of the pieces had shifted from its position in the
hold, throwing others out of place, till their weight had heeled the
vessel over as the party had found her.
“Well, Capt. O’Hara, do you think you can stow this cargo over again so
as to right the vessel?” asked Mr. Frisbone, when the pump had worked
long enough to afford them a full view of the condition of the hold.
“I have no doubt I can,” replied O’Hara confidently.
“But some of those pieces weigh several tons,” suggested the Prince.
“But we have a donkey-engine on deck; and, with snatch-blocks, we can
apply the power in any direction we desire.”
“Precisely so: I see that you are master of the situation.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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