and quivered in spite of all the shrouds and stays
which supported them, and then over she heeled, till the yardarms
touched the seething ocean. Fore and aft she was covered with a mass of
foam, while the waters rushed exultantly into her ports, threatening to
carry her instantly to the bottom. The crew hurried to secure the
ports. Many poor fellows were carried off while making the attempt. In
vain Captain Penrose and his officers exerted themselves to wear the
ship. Like a helpless log she lay on the foaming ocean. While still
hoping to avoid the last extreme resource of cutting away the masts, the
carpenter appeared on the quarterdeck with an expression of
consternation on his countenance.

"What has happened below, Chips?" asked Captain Penrose.

"Twelve feet water in the hold, and rapidly gaining on us," was the
answer.

"It is probably the water which has got in through the ports; but man
the pumps: we must get it out again as fast as we can," answered the
Captain.

"They'll not work while the ship is in this position, sir," said the
carpenter.

"Oh, well, then, we must get her out of it!" cried Captain Penrose in a
cheerful voice, though his heart was heavy. "All hands stand by to cut
away the masts."

The order was repeated from mouth to mouth, for no voice could have been
heard along the deck. The carpenter once more went below to sound the
well. He shortly returned with even a worse report than the first. The
order was therefore given to cut away the masts. He sprang to his post
at the mizen-mast, which was to go first; but, just as he was about to
cut, the ship righted with a sudden jerk, which well-nigh sent everybody
off his legs. All believed that the dreaded resource would not be
required, but still the helm was useless, and therefore the ship could
not be got before the wind. Not a minute had passed before she was once
more struck on the opposite side with a still more furious blast of the
hurricane. Over the big ship heeled to it, till first the foremast went
by the head, carrying all the topmast rigging over the bows; the
mainmast followed, going by the board, and the mizen-mast was quickly
dragged after it, the falling masts wounding and killing many of the
crew, and carrying several overboard. Not a moment, however, was lost,
before, led by the officers, all were engaged with axes and knives in
clearing the wreck. But now the seas leaped up furiously round the
labouring ship,