I thought the precaution reasonable.

I took one of the lamps that were hung under the awnings and went forward.
After opening the forepeak hatch I heard splashing in there.

I lowered then the lamp the whole drift of its lanyard, and saw that the forepeak was more than half full of water already.

I knew then there must be a big hole below the water-line.' He paused.
'Yes,' said the big assessor, with a dreamy smile at the blotting-pad; his fingers played incessantly, touching the paper without noise.
'I did not think of danger just then.

I might have been a little startled: all this happened in such a quiet way and so very suddenly.