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shouted,--
"While we can steer we have yet a chance. The lower planks hold good.
Axes, axes! Overboard with the mast! Clear the decks!"
Both crew and passengers worked with the excitement of despair. A few
strokes of the hatchets, and it was done. They pushed the mast over the
side. The deck was cleared.
"
Now," continued the skipper, "take a rope's end and lash me to the
helm." To the tiller they bound him.
While they were fastening him he laughed, and shouted,--
"Blow, old hurdy-gurdy, bellow. I've seen your equal off Cape
Machichaco."
And when secured he clutched the helm with that strange hilarity which
danger awakens.
"All goes well, my lads. Long live our Lady of Buglose! Let us steer
west."
An enormous wave came down abeam, and fell on the vessel's quarter.
There is always in storms a tiger-like wave, a billow fierce and
decisive, which, attaining a certain height, creeps horizontally over
the surface of the waters for a time, then rises, roars, rages, and
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