ving thus set an
example in commencing the work; and then, the first mate, nothing loth,
attacked the main-shrouds, severing them clear to the chain-plates, when
he handed over the axe to Jackson, who also did wonders with the weapon
towards clearing away the heavy rigging that had so long resisted the
efforts of the men with their clasp-knives.

The sea by this time was quite calm, thus greatly facilitating our
labour; but, from our not having had any food for two days, all hands
were very weak, and it took them a much longer time to free the ship of
all her rope hamper and cordage than they would have achieved the task
in if they had possessed their proper strength. It was, therefore,
quite late on in the afternoon when the rigging on the port side was all
detached, although Jake had recovered the axe at noon, and we had set to
work immediately afterwards.

This, however, was only a preliminary to the real labour that lay before
us--that of cutting away the masts, a much more serious matter.

The ship, it must be recollected, was lying completely over on her
starboard side, with all her spars extended horizontally flat along the
surface of the sea, which washed up to the hatches; so that, even
amidships, the water was too deep for the men to have stood on the deck,
even if they could have found foothold; there. Away ahead, the bows
were completely submerged right up to the fore-chains, the ocean swell
washing right through the _Josephine_ fore and aft, right up to the
poop.

Luckily, however, the upper portion of the mainmast bitts projected out
of the water, so, Jackson, climbing down on to these and supporting
himself as well as he could by balancing his body with his feet |
extended outwards straddle-ways, commenced to slash away at the mast
here; while the rest of the men, under Mr Marline's directions,
proceeded to clear away the rigging and unreeve those ropes which they
were able to reach, in order to leave the spar clear for Jackson to work
upon it freely.

It was a terribly tough job, though, the young seaman having to waste a
part of each blow in the water that covered the foot of the mast. This
neutralised his efforts, but he could not help it, for the axe splashed
in the sea before touching the wood.

After a short spell, Jackson, quite feeble from hunger and exhaustion,
had to give in, when Moggridge took his place, chopping vigorously at
the mast as long as he was able. Then, another sailor to