ion.

Having reached the spars, we set-to with a very good will to shift away
the weed and wrack that was piled over them, and very much entangled with
the rigging. Presently we had laid them bare, and so we discovered them
to be in remarkably sound condition, the lower-mast especially being a
fine piece of timber. All the lower and topmast standing rigging was
still attached, though in places the lower rigging was stranded so far as
half-way up the shrouds; yet there remained much that was good and all
of it quite free from rot, and of the very finest quality of white hemp,
such as is to be seen only in the best found vessels.

About the time that we had finished clearing the weed, the bo'sun came
over to us, bringing with him the saw and the hatchet. Under his
directions, we cut the lanyards of the topmast rigging, and after that
sawed through the topmast just above the cap. Now this was a very tough
piece of work, and employed us a great part of the morning, even though
we took turn and turn at the saw, and when it was done we were mightily
glad that the bo'sun bade one of the men go over with some weed and make
up the fire for dinner, after which he was to put on a piece of the salt
meat to boil.

In the meanwhile, the bo'sun had started to cut through the topmast,
about fifteen feet beyond the first cut, for that was the length of the
batten he required; yet so wearisome was the work, that we had not gotten
more than half through with it before the man whom the bo'sun had sent,
returned to say that the dinner was ready. When this was dispatched, and
we had rested a little over our pipes, the bo'sun rose and led us back;
for he was determined to get through with the topmast before dark.

Presently, relieving each other frequently, we completed the second
cut, and after that the bo'sun set us to saw a block about twelve
inches deep from the remaining portion of the topmast. From this, when
we had cut it, he proceeded to hew wedges with the hatchet. Then he
notched the end of the fifteen-foot log, and into the notch he drove
the wedges, and so, towards evening, as much, maybe, by good luck as
good management, he had divided the log into two halves--the split
running very fairly down the center.

Now, perceiving how that it drew near to sundown, he bade the men haste
and gather weed and carry it across to our camp; but one he sent along
the shore to make a search for shell-fish among the weed; yet he himself
cease