"
"As I thought. The expanding water burst every tank in the hold, and
the cargo was deluged with water, which attacked every lime barrel in
the bottom layer, at least. Result--the bursting of those barrels from
the ebullition of slaking lime, the melting of the tallow--which could
not burn long in the closed-up-space--and the mixing of it in the
interstices of the lime barrels with water and lime--a boiling hot
mess. What happens under such conditions?"
"Give it up," said Boston, laconically.
"Lime soap is formed, which rises, and the water beneath is in time all
taken up by the lime."
"But what of it?" interrupted the other.
"Wait. I see that this hold and the 'tween-deck are lined with wood.
Is that customary in iron ships?"
"Not now. It used to be a notion that an iron skin damaged the cargo;
so the first iron ships were ceiled with wood."
"Are there any drains in the 'tween-deck to let water out, in case it
gets into that deck from above--a sea, for instance?"
"Yes, always; three or four scupper-holes each side amidships. They
lead the water into the bilges, where the pumps can reach it."
"I found up there," continued the doctor, "a large piece of wood, badly
charred by acid for half its length, charred to a lesser degree for the
rest.
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