Soon after there was a crash, when down came the fore and main topmasts, falling over the side, and dragging the ship down, so that half of her decks were buried, while the seas continually broke over the other part.
In a few minutes Brand, with the help of his speaking trumpet, was enabled to make himself heard by shrieking into the very ears of the men.
"Clear the wreck!" was his first order, which Tom Turk at once sprang to obey, axe in hand.
Harry Glenville, similarly provided, was at the side of the old tar, to whom he had taken quite a fancy, and who he had reason to believe, appreciated and was glad of his notice.
The two soon gaining the wreck, went to work, having previously fastened ropes round their middles to prevent themselves from being washed overboard.
With a few blows they renewed the encumbrances, when the vessel partially righted.
The wind was now blowing a perfect tornado, keeping the spray down almost upon the surface of the sea, which was nearly as flat as a floor.
The ship also feeling this pressure, instead of now rolling and plunging, was forced down into the stormy sea almost to the middle of her bulwarks, while her bows were completely buried.
Harry had taken off the rope, and was about returning aft, when the water forward swept by an erratic movement of the ship, caught him and carried him from his feet!
Like a shot he was whirled over the bulwarks, when he caught a small, rotten piece of rope hanging from the shrouds.