And the great post was sorely in my way, over my shoulder more or less, so that I must needs hurt myself now and then against it.

But as this seemed my one chance I would not give up until I must.
Every now and then I stayed my sawing and had a great tug at the cords, in hopes that they would give way, but at last I knew I must saw them through almost to the last strand.

It would have been easy if I could keep at work on the same spot, but that was impossible, for I could not see behind me, and the post kept shifting me as I struck it.
I wondered now that I had seen nothing of Evan for so long.

Maybe if I had not been so busy the wonder would have passed, for I should have been seasick as he was.

There was some sea over on this coast, and quite enough to upset a landsman.