The ship took a heavy list, and some sea broke on board, but though it was rising fast, there was not yet enough to do much harm.

The floating bights of canvas hove us round broadside to the run of the waves, and needs must that we cleared away the wreck as soon as might be.
There were two axes slung at the foot of the mast in case of such chances as this, and with them we cut the mast adrift from the shattered gunwale, and got it overboard, so that the ship recovered herself somewhat.

The yard lay half on deck, and I climbed out on it, and cleared it from the mast without much trouble, cutting away all the rigging at the masthead, and letting the mast itself go to leeward as the waves would take it.
After that we had some hard work in getting the sail on board again, but it was done at last, and by that time the squall was over, while the wind had flown back to its old quarter--the northeast--and seemed likely to bide there.

Overhead the scud was flying with more wind than we could feel, and we had cause to be anxious.

The sea would get up, and unless we could set some sort of sail which would at least serve to keep her head to it, we should fare badly.