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Mr Thudicumb's glancing axe descended, while at the same moment the boatswain cut the weather shrouds; and as the mast fell over, several brave fellows sprang to leeward to divide those on the lee side. Still the ship lay helpless on the foaming water. One more hope remained the foremast must go; should the ship then be unable to rise, our doom must be sealed. Anxiously we all watched the captain.
However, they could not refuse to comply with Mr Thudicumb's request, and we therefore set forth with tools to the bay where we had collected the materials, which, it will be remembered, we called Hope Harbour. Fortunately, the pirates had not discovered it, or they would probably have burned our wood.
There was a clear road from the bay up into the interior, and while one party prepared the spot where the vessel was to be built, levelling the ground, and fixing logs on which the keel was to be placed, under Mr Thudicumb's directions another started to select the timber. We were not long before we came to a tall tree, fully eighty feet in height, and as straight as an arrow.
Probably they will be content with such booty as they can find here though there is not much to their taste and will, after a time, take themselves off." Mr Thudicumb's advice was considered good, and my uncle and Mr Hooker agreed to adopt it. "If they do come, though, what a grievous pity it would be to have all our collection destroyed," said Mr Hooker.