If we felt anxious, how much more so must the poor fellows on the brig, which might at any moment be knocked to pieces, and they be sent struggling hopelessly in the foaming seas!  We knew from the length of the whip that we must haul out the hawser almost to its end.  Soon after we had done so another signal was made, which implied that the men had secured it round the mast.  We then immediately hauled away on the hawser until we had got it stretched and secured to the anchor, which had been imbedded in the earth some way back from the cliff.  It was necessary, however, not to get it too taut, as the vessel was moved by the seas, and might either break it, or tear the anchor out of the ground.  This done, the "buoy with the breeches" was secured to a block, adjusted to the hawser, and was immediately hauled off.