The Scotia, divided into seven compartments by strong partitions, could brave with impunity any leak.

Captain Anderson went down immediately into the hold.

He found that the sea was pouring into the fifth compartment; and the rapidity of the influx proved that the force of the water was considerable.

Fortunately this compartment did not hold the boilers, or the fires would have been immediately extinguished.

Captain Anderson ordered the engines to be stopped at once, and one of the men went down to ascertain the extent of the injury.