"We also," began the deck-beams, "are discoverers and geniuses. We are of opinion that the support of the hold-pillars materially helps us. We find that we lock up on them when we are subjected to a heavy and singular weight of sea above." Here the Dimbula shot down a hollow, lying almost on her side; righting at the bottom with a wrench and a spasm. "In these cases - are you aware of this, Steam? - the plating at the bows, and particularly at the stern - we would also mention the floors beneath us - help us to resist any tendency to spring." The frames spoke, in the solemn awed voice which people use when they have just come across something entirely new for the very first time. "I'm only a poor puffy little flutterer," said the Steam, "but I have to stand a good deal of pressure in my business. It's all tremendously interesting. Tell us some more. You fellows are so strong." "Watch us and you'll see," said the bow-plates, proudly. "Ready, behind there! Here's the father and mother of waves coming! Sit tight, rivets all!" A great sluicing comber thundered by, but through the scuffle and confusion the Steam could hear the low, quick cries of the ironwork as the various strains took them - cries like these: "Easy, now - easy! Now push for all your strength! Hold out! Give a fraction! Hold up! Pull in! Shove crossways! Mind the strain at the ends! Grip, now! Bite tight! Let the water get away from under - and there she goes!" The wave raced off into the darkness, shouting, "Not bad, that, if it's your first run!" and the drenched and ducked ship throbbed to the beat of the engines inside her. All three cylinders were white with the salt spray that had come down through the engine-room hatch; there was white fur on the canvas-bound steam-pipes, and even the bright-work deep below was speckled and soiled; but the cylinders had learned to make the most of steam that was half water, and were pounding along cheerfully. "How's the noblest outcome of human ingenuity hitting it?" said the Steam, as he whirled through the engine-room. "Nothing for nothing in this world of woe," the cylinders answered, as though they had been working for centuries, "and precious little for seventy-five pounds head. We've made two knots this last hour and a quarter! Rather humiliating for eight hundred horse-power, isn't it?" "Well, it's better than drifting astern, at any rate. You seem rather less - how shall I put it - stiff in the back than you were." "If you'd been hammered as we've been this night, you wouldn't be stiff- iff- iff; either. Theoreti - retti - retti - cally, of course, rigidity is the thing. Purrr - purr - practically, there has to be a little give and take. We found that out by working on our sides for five minutes at a stretch - chch - chh. How's the weather?" "'Sea's going down fast," said the Steam.