nds.

A third time he reappeared, still unsuccessful; and then we began to
give up hope, although watching him all the while with the most intense
anxiety.

None spoke a word, hardly daring to move.

Our interest in his actions was keen to intensity!

Our fate seemed trembling in the balance.

Once more he dived.

This was the fourth time he had ventured beneath the sea in his search
for the coveted weapon, which was to free the ship from the cumbersome
masts and top-hamper that kept her down on her beam-ends.

Unless we got the axe we would never be able to right her again; and we
all regarded this dive of Jake's as the last chance, although we did not
exchange a syllable--our looks expressed our thoughts.

Jake now remained longer below than he had yet done, so we feared some
mishap had befallen him; but, just as Jackson was preparing to dive down
into the water that covered the forecastle, to see what had become of
him, the plucky darkey popped up above the surface, holding something in
one hand as he swam with the other towards the main rigging.

Our hearts beat high with expectation.

In another minute, Jake had mounted into the shrouds, when our suspense
was quickly relieved; for, no sooner had he clambered near enough to the
ship's side to get a support for his feet, than he raised himself erect.

"Golly, Mass' Cap'en," he sang out in feeble accents, being now pretty
well exhausted with his repeated efforts, "I'se got him at last! I'se
got him at last!"

At the same time, he lifted up whatever it was he held in his hand, and
tried to wave it round his head in token of his victory.

It was Adze's axe.

"Hooray!" shouted Captain Miles at the extreme pitch of his voice, and
the responsive cheer we raised in chorus might have been heard more than
a mile away.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN.

RIGHTING THE SHIP.

"Now, men!" cried out Captain Miles, when our excitement had calmed down
a little, "we've got the axe; but, the next thing we have to do is to
use it, so as to release the ship as soon as we can. I think, my lads,
I ought to have the first turn."

So saying, taking the axe from Jake, he made a slash at the end of the
hawser which had been rigged up over the head of the foremast, when, the
strands being cut through after a couple of heavy strokes, the rope
parted, curling up like a whip and flying up in the air with a pretty
sharp report.

"Now, Mr Marline, it's your turn," said the captain, ha