waiting for an answer, Leslie made a spring for
the rack in which the tomahawks were kept, and, seizing the first of the
small axes that he could lay hands upon, he set an example to the rest
by hacking away at the lanyards of the main shrouds. It was a
heart-breaking business, that blind hewing and chopping at the
complicated gear that held the wreck of the mainmast fast to the hull;
but it was accomplished at last, and then, the brig having paid off
almost dead before the wind, it drifted astern and went clear, with much
scraping and a final bump under the counter that made the old hooker
tremble, and must have infallibly destroyed the rudder had it chanced to
hit it. Then all hands went to work and attacked the topmast rigging,
which, being less complicated, was soon cleared away.

The harassed crew now had a moment in which to collect their energies
for fresh efforts, and take stock, as it were, of the extent of the
disaster that had befallen them. And the first matter into which Leslie
made particular inquiry--after he had gone below and got into his
clothes--was the state of the crew; it had been impressed upon him--
although he had hitherto been too busy to mention it--that some men
seemed to be missing--or rather, he had vaguely felt that there were not
so many men on deck as there ought to be.

So he now turned to the carpenter, and said--

"Muster all hands, Chips, and let the steward give them a good, generous
tot of grog; they will be all the better for it after their hard work in
the wet and cold. Moreover, I wish to satisfy myself that they are all
right; it has struck me more than once since I came on deck that some of
them are missing."

"I pray to God that you're wrong, sir," answered the carpenter; "but,
now that you comes to speak of it, the same thing have struck me too.
Here, lay aft, bullies, all of yer, and let's have a look at ye," he
continued, sending his voice forward to the forecastle, where the men
were now grouped, awaiting further orders.

They came aft, slouching along the deck after their usual manner, and
grouped themselves about the binnacle, "Why, where's the rest of ye?"
demanded the carpenter, glaring angrily from one to the other; "where's
Bill--and Jim--and Joe? Jump for'ard, one of ye, and tell 'em to lay
aft here for a tot o' grog."

"We're all here, Chips--all that's left of us, that is. Bill, and Jim,
and Joe are all missin'; ain't to be found nowheres. Anyhow, th