The Breton's face was grave.

He came to report that they had sprung a leak between wind and water, the consequence of damage sustained from one of the Dutchman's shots.

In alarm Levasseur went off with him.

The leakage was not serious so long as the weather kept fine; but should a storm overtake them it might speedily become so.

A man was slung overboard to make a partial stoppage with a sail-cloth, and the pumps were got to work.
Ahead of them a low cloud showed on the horizon, which Cahusac pronounced one of the northernmost of the Virgin Islands.
"We must run for shelter there, and careen her," said Levasseur.