But the captain,
having some unusual reason for believing that rare good luck awaited
him in those latitudes; and therefore being very averse to quit them,
and the leak not being then considered at all dangerous, though, indeed,
they could not find it after searching the hold as low down as was
possible in rather heavy weather, the ship still continued her cruisings,
the mariners working at the pumps at wide and easy intervals; but no good
luck came; more days went by and not only was the leak yet undiscovered,
but it sensibly increased. So much so, that now taking some alarm,
the captain, making all sail, stood away for the nearest harbor among
the islands, there to have his hull hove out and repaired.
"Though no small passage was before her, yet, if the commonest
chance favoured, he did not at all fear that his ship would founder
by the way, because his pumps were of the best, and being periodically
relieved at them, those six-and-thirty men of his could easily
keep the ship free; never mind if the leak should double on her.
In truth, well nigh the whole of this passage being attended by very
prosperous breezes, the Town-Ho had all but certainly arrived in perfect
safety at her port without the occurrence of the least fatality,
had it not been for the brutal overbearing of Radney, the mate,
a Vineyarder, and the bitterly provoked vengeance of Steelkilt,
a Lakeman and desperado from Buffalo.
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