e; the necessity had been foreseen. A seaman
would have perceived it by the two pulleys of the top ropes cut in the
form of snatch-blocks, and fixed behind the sloop, through which passed
two ropes, the ends of which were slung through the rings of the
anchors.

Meanwhile the tide was rising fast; the half flood had arrived, a moment
when the shock of the waves, even in comparatively moderate weather, may
become considerable. Exactly what Gilliatt expected came to pass. The
waves rolled violently against the barrier, struck it, broke heavily and
passed beneath. Outside was the heavy swell; within, the waters ran
quietly. He had devised a sort of marine _Furculae caudinae_. The sea was
conquered.

VIII

MOVEMENT RATHER THAN PROGRESS

The moment so long dreaded had come.

The problem now was to place the machinery in the bark.

Gilliatt remained thoughtful for some moments, holding the elbow of his
left arm in his right hand, and applying his left hand to his forehead.

Then he climbed upon the wreck, one part of which, containing the
engine, was to be parted from it, while the other remained.

He severed the four slings which fixed the four chains from the funnel
on the larboard and the starboard sides. The slings being only of cord,
his knife served him well enough for this purpose.

The four chains set free, hung down along the sides of the funnel.

From the wreck he climbed up to the apparatus which he had constructed,
stamped with his feet upon the beams, inspected the tackle-blocks,
looked to the pulleys, handled the cables, examined the eking-pieces,
assured himself that the untarred hemp was not saturated through, found
that nothing was wanting and nothing giving way; then springing from the
height of the suspending props on to the deck, he took up his position
near the capstan, in the part of the Durande which he intended to leave
jammed in between the two Douvres. This was to be his post during his
labours.

Earnest, but troubled with no impulses but what were useful to his work,
he took a final glance at the hoisting-tackle, then seized a file and
began to saw with it through the chain which held the whole suspended.

The rasping of the file was audible amidst the roaring of the sea.

The chain from the capstan, attached to the regulating gear, was within
his reach, quite near his hand.

Suddenly there was a crash. The link which he was filing snapped when
only half cut through: the who