Captain Staunton and Mr
Bowles sprang with one accord aft to the helm. It was well that they
did so; for when the vessel was thrown upon her beam-ends the wheel flew
suddenly and violently round, taking unawares the unfortunate man who
was stationed at it and hurling him far over the lee quarter into the
sea, where he immediately sank, being probably disabled by a blow from
the rapidly revolving spokes. The two officers saw in a moment that the
poor fellow was irretrievably lost, so without wasting time in useless
efforts to save him they devoted themselves forthwith to the task of
preserving the ship. The wheel was put hard up, with the object of
getting the craft before the wind; and then the two men stood anxiously
watching and awaiting the result. Two or three minutes passed, and
there still lay the ship prone on her side, with her lee topsail and
lower yard-arms dipping in the water, she would _not_ pay off.

"Bowles," said Captain Staunton, lashing the wheel as he spoke, "make
your way forward; muster the carpenter and one or two of the most
reliable men you have, and bring them aft with axes to cut away the
mizen-mast; we _must_ get her before it somehow; should it come any
stronger she will `turn the turtle' with us. Station your men; but do
not cut until I hold up my hand."

Mr Bowles nodded his head; and then set out upon his difficult journey,
climbing up to windward by the grating upon which the helmsman usually
stood, and then working his way along the deck by grasping the bulwarks,
which on the poop were only about a foot above the deck. On reaching
the wake of the mizen-mast he was compelled to pause in order to help
Rex Fortescue and Violet out of their dangerous position, a position of
course altogether untenable now that the order had been given to cut
away the mast. This, with Brook's assistance, he with some difficulty
accomplished, landing them safely alongside Blanche and Bob upon the
companion. The slight delay thus incurred threatened to have the most
disastrous consequences; for when the chief mate was once more free to
proceed upon his errand he became aware that the ship's inclination had
sensibly increased, to such an extent indeed that he momentarily
expected to feel her rolling bottom-up. Glancing aft once more, he
caught the eye of Captain Staunton, who immediately raised his hand.
This the mate took to mean an order to cut away the mast with all
possible expedition; and whipping