noon
And up he went to make his report to the skipper . This was bad news indeed , especially for the unfortunate men who were compelled by dire necessity to toil unceasingly at the back-breaking labour of working the pumps ; but I felt no apprehension as to our ultimate safety . Five inches of water per hour was a formidable gain for a leak to make in spite of all the pumping and baling that could be accomplished , yet it would take so many hours at that rate to reduce the frigate to a water-logged condition that ere the arrival of that moment the gale would certainly blow itself out , the labouring and straining of the ship would cease , the leak would be got under control again , and all would be well . But when , at noon that day , -- the gale showing no symptoms whatever of abatement , -- the captain gave orders for the upper-deck guns to be launched overboard , I began to realise that our condition was such as might easily become critical . And when , about half an hour before sunset , orders were given to throw the _ main-deck _ guns overboard , it became borne in upon me that matters were becoming mighty serious with us . With the approach of night the gale seemed rather to increase in strength than otherwise , while the sea was certainly considerably heavier ; and the worst of it was that there was no indication of an approaching change for the better . As for the poor _ Althea _ , she certainly did not labour quite so heavily now that she was relieved of the weight of her guns , but the water in the hold still gained steadily upon the pumps , and the more experienced hands among us were beginning to hint at the possibility of our being compelled to leave her and take to the boats .