Above one layer of planks was another.
This was discouraging.
Yet he kept on and after a long period of fatiguing work actually succeeded in cutting a hole through the hatch.
But as he did so his ax sunk into some substance which moved and fell in some quantity. It was sand.
“Mercy!” muttered the despair-stricken man, “it is true that the sand has again covered the deck up.”
In this event his efforts to dig his way out would be futile.
He was aweary and exhausted. In fact, he had barely strength enough left to creep down the ladder.
A strange drowsiness came over him. He could not resist it.
He crept back to the captain’s cabin and sank down upon a couch. Almost instantly he was asleep.
How long he slept he never knew.