"There's not a sign of the others," he announced. "What on earth can have happened to them, I wonder? It's nearly half-past one." He caught sight of Rayburn, who was stifling a yawn. "You did jolly well, Phil!" he exclaimed. "We would have been in a pretty kettle of fish if you hadn't been here. But you're tired. How about turning in?" "I'm not tired, really," protested the Tenderfoot. "I'll take a turn at the pump if you like." "Right-o," agreed Dick. "We may have to have spells at it all night; but I think I'll try to find out where it's coming in and have a go at stopping it." Switching on his electric torch, Roche squeezed through the small doorway between the engine-room and the forepeak. He could hear an ominous trickle coming from the neighbourhood of the chain-locker. Investigations resulted in the discovery that the _Olivette's_ bows had been badly damaged in spite of the partial protection afforded by the "pudding" fender. Several planks had been started on either side of the stem, and although most of the damage was above water-line, there was a considerable leak where a seam or two had burst. Procuring some grease and cotton-waste, Dick proceeded to caulk the faulty seams, but his efforts in that direction were rewarded with poor success. It was impracticable to use any degree of force, because the fastenings of the planks were in such a weak state that the planks themselves began to give; and without ramming the caulking well home, the cotton-waste would not remain in position. "Better let well alone," decided Roche. "It's jolly tedious work manning the pump, but we'll keep the old hooker afloat." Having reported the result of his investigations, Roche proposed that each of the three Sea Scouts should take fifteen-minute tricks at the pump. "That will give each of us half-an-hour spells," he added. "One or both of the others can stop on deck to keep a look-out for the liberty men." "P'r'aps they are not 'liberty men' any longer," remarked Flemming. "It's jolly rummy that they haven't shown up before this. Right-o, Dick; I'll take on with the pumping." Roche and the Tenderfoot went on deck. The tide was still ebbing. The wind had dropped, and hardly a sound disturbed the stillness of the night except the ripple of the water against the _Olivette's_ bows, and the monotonous chug-chug of the semi-rotary pump. A steamer's navigation lights appeared up-stream. She was heading towards the anchored _Olivette_. Rayburn glanced at his companion. "It's all right," said Dick reassuringly. "She's coming round a bend; that's why she appears end on. She'll starboard her helm in half a tick." But the vessel held on until even Roche began to think that there would be a collision. He glanced aloft to make sure that the _Olivette's_ riding-lamp was burning brightly.