Every now and then the steamer would get herself up on top of a big wave, and then drop down, sideways, as if she were sliding off the top of a house.

The mate and the captain soon came out on deck together, and the captain went forward to the pilot-house, while Mr.Randall came over to his men, and they got ready to throw the lead again.

It didn't seem to me that the line ran out as far as it did the last time, and I think I heard Mr.Randall say, "Fourteen." At any rate, a man was sent forward to the pilot-house, and directly we heard the rudder-chains creaking, and the big iron arms of the rudder, which were on deck, moved over toward the landward side of the vessel, and I knew by that that the captain was putting her head out to sea.

Mr.Randall took out the tallow from the lead and laid it in an empty bucket that was lashed to the deck.

He seemed to be more anxious now about the depth of water than about the kind of bottom we were passing over.