With Great Difficulty, We Got All The Hides Aboard And
Stowed Under Hatches, The Yard And Stay Tackles Hooked On, And The
Launch And Pinnace Hoisted, Checked, And Griped.
The quarter-boats
were then hoisted up, and we began heaving in on the chain.
Getting the anchor was no easy work in such a sea, but as we
were not coming back to this port, the captain determined not
to slip.
The ship's head pitched into the sea, and the water
rushed through the hawse-holes, and the chain surged so as almost
to unship the barrel of the windlass. "Hove short, sir!" said
the mate. "Aye, aye! Weather-bit your chain and loose the
topsails! Make sail on her, men - with a will!" A few moments
served to loose the topsails, which were furled with reefs,
to sheet them home, and hoist them up. "Bear a hand!" was the
order of the day; and every one saw the necessity of it, for the
gale was already upon us. The ship broke out her own anchor,
which we catted and fished, after a fashion, and stood off from
the lee-shore against a heavy head sea, under reefed topsails,
fore-topmast staysail and spanker. The fore course was given
to her, which helped her a little; but as she hardly held her
own against the sea which was settling her leeward - "Board the
main tack!" shouted the captain; when the tack was carried forward
and taken to the windlass, and all hands called to the handspikes.
The great sail bellied out horizontally as though it would lift up
the main stay; the blocks rattled and flew about; but the force of
machinery was too much for her.
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