"What's more, if we can't
right the ballast a bit and get steerage way on her afore the sea
works up, she'll go down under us inside the next two hours.
There's the pumps, too: for if she don't take in water like a basket
I was never born in Wendron parish an' taught blastin'. Why, master,
you must ha' blown the very oakum out of her seams!"
My father frowned thoughtfully. "That's true," said he; "I have been
congratulating myself too soon. Billy, in the absence of Captain
Pomery I appoint you skipper. You have an ugly job to face, but do
your best."
"Skipper, be I? Then right you are!" answered Billy, with a cheerful
smile. "An' the first order is for you and Master Prosper here to
tumble below an' heft ballast for your lives. Be the two specimens
safe?"
"Eh?" It took my father a second, maybe, to fit this description to
Messrs. Badcock and Fett. "Ah, to be sure! Yes, I left them safe
and unhurt."
"What's no good never comes to harm," said Billy. "Send 'em on deck,
then, and I'll put 'em on to the pumps."
We left Billy face to face with a job which indeed looked to be past
hope.
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