"She's nearly half full of water now and continues leaking like a sieve.

The seams strain and yawn awfully when she rides, even worse than when she was flying along at the mercy of the wind and waves.

Still, we must try to keep her clear if possible, as the lighter and more buoyant she is, the better chance have we of getting out of this mess." "I'll do the baling gladly," rejoined Fritz, really pleased at doing something, and beginning at once with the job, using a large tin pannikin that they had taken with them.
"Then, fire away," said Eric.

"It will be as much as I can do to attend to the steering of the boat.

Look sharp, old fellow, and get some of the light ballast out of her! I see a light scud creeping up from leeward, behind us, with the waves fringing up into a curl before it.
The wind has chopped round at last and we'll have to cut and run as soon as it reaches us." Fritz baled away with the tin pannikin for dear life.
"Now, brother," cried Eric, a moment later, "get your knife ready, and go forwards into the bows.