We Paid Out On The
Chain By Which We Swung; Hove In On The Other; Catted The Anchor;
And Hove Short On The First.
This work was done in shorter time
than was usual on board the brig; for though everything was more
Than twice as large and heavy, the cat-block being as much as a
man could lift, and the chain as large as three of the Pilgrim's,
yet there was a plenty of room to move about in, more discipline
and system, more men, and more good will. Every one seemed ambitious
to do his best: officers and men knew their duty, and all went well.
As soon as she was hove short, the mate, on the forecastle, gave the
order to loose the sails, and, in an instant, every one sprung into
the rigging, up the shrouds, and out on the yards, scrambling by one
another, - the first up the best fellow, - cast off the yard-arm gaskets
and bunt gaskets, and one man remained on each yard, holding the bunt
jigger with a turn round the tye, all ready to let go, while the rest
laid down to man the sheets and halyards. The mate then hailed the
yards - "All ready forward?" - "All ready the cross-jack yards?" etc.,
etc., and "Aye, aye, sir!" being returned from each, the word was
given to let go; and in the twinkling of an eye, the ship, which
had shown nothing but her bare yards, was covered with her loose
canvas, from the royal-mast-heads to the decks.
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