And like unto some stricken buffalo brought low to the plain, the brigantine's black hull, shaggy with sea-weed, lay panting on its flank in the foam.
Frantically we clung to the uppermost bulwarks.

And now, loud above the roar of the sea, was suddenly heard a sharp, splintering sound, as of a Norway woodman felling a pine in the forest.

It was brave Jarl, who foremost of all had snatched from its rack against the mainmast, the ax, always there kept.
"Cut the lanyards to windward!" he cried; and again buried his ax into the mast.

He was quickly obeyed.

And upon cutting the third lanyard of the five, he shouted for us to pause.