However, we found that we could just manage to keep the leak from gaining upon us by having one pump constantly going.

As there were only four of us, this was severe labour; but we endeavoured to keep up our spirits, and looked anxiously for daybreak, when we hoped to lighten the brig by cutting away the mainmast.
In this manner we passed a night of terrible anxiety and fatigue, and, when the day at length broke, the gale had neither abated in the least, nor were there any signs of its abating.

We now dragged the bodies on deck and threw them overboard.

Our next care was to get rid of the mainmast.

The necessary preparations having been made, Peters cut away at the mast (having found axes in the cabin), while the rest of us stood by the stays and lanyards.