Then Stanley told the man to get down and take out the wedge, at the top of the axe; and to cut away the wood below the head, so that the latter would slip down, four or five inches; then to take off the head of the other heavy axe and put it on above it, and replace the wedge.

In a few minutes, the man rejoined him.
"We must strike it as near the roof as we can," Stanley said.

Both grasped the handle firmly.

"We will sway it backwards and forwards three times and, the third time, strike.
"One, two, three--hooray!" As the two-headed axe, driven with their united force, struck the stone, there was a sharp crack.
"That has done it," Stanley said, turning over.
There was a dark line along the groove, and the top of the stone inclined back, two inches from the perpendicular; being kept in its place by the rubbish behind it.

Stanley put his hand into the hole, and got his fingers behind the stone; while the Burmese put the chisel into the crack, and used it as a lever.