The captain sounded the well and found three feet and a half water in it.
He ordered all hands to the pumps.

They turned to with a good heart, and pumped, watch and watch, till
daybreak.

Their exertions counteracted the leak, but did no more; the water in the
well was neither more nor less, perceptibly.

This was a relief to their minds, so far; but the situation was a very
serious one. Suppose foul weather should come, and the vessel ship water
from above as well!

Now all those who were not on the pumps set to work to find out the leak
and stop it if possible. With candles in their hands they crept about the
ribs of the ship, narrowly inspecting every corner, and applying their
ears to every suspected place, if haply they might hear the water coming
in. The place where Hazel had found Wylie at work was examined along with
the rest; but neither there nor anywhere else could the leak be
discovered. Yet the water was still coming in and required unremitting
labor to keep it under. It was then suggested by Wylie, and the opinion
gradually gained ground, that some of the seams had opened in the late
gale and were letting in the water by small but numerous, apertures.

Faces began to look cloudy; and Hazel, throwing off his lethargy, took
his spell at the main pump with the rest.

When his gang was relieved he went away, bathed in perspiration, and,
leaning over the well, sounded it.