It was oval in cross section, and the largest end was charred
most."
"Scupper plug. I suppose they plugged the 'tween-deck scuppers to keep
any water they might ship out of the bilges and away from the lime."
"Yes, and those plugs remained in place for days, if not weeks or
months, after the carboys burst, as indicated by the greater charring
of the larger end of the plug. I burrowed under the debris, and found
the hole which that plug fitted. It was worked loose, or knocked out
of the hole by some internal movement of the broken carboys, perhaps.
At any rate, it came out, after remaining in place long enough for the
acids to become thoroughly mixed and for the hull to cool down. She
was in the ice, remember. Boston, the mixed acid went down that hole,
or others like it. Where is it now?"
"I suppose," said Boston, thoughtfully, "that it soaked up into the
hold, through the skin."
"Exactly. The skin is calked with oakum, is it not?" Boston nodded.
"That oakum would contract with the charring action, as did the oakum
in the hatch, and every drop of that acid--ten thousand gallons, as I
have figured--has filtered up into the hold, with the exception of what
remained between the frames under the skin.
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