But the sailors fought sturdily for life.

"To retard the schooner's drift, we kept the wreck of the foremast, bowsprit, sails, spars, etc., fast by the bowsprit shrouds and other ropes, so that we drifted to leeward but about two miles the hour.

To secure the mainmast was now the first object.

I therefore took with me one of the best of the crew, and carried the end of a rope cable with us up to the mainmast head, and clenched it round the mast, while it was badly springing.

We then took the cable to the windlass and hove taut, and thus effectually secured the mast....