At Length, John,
The Tall Frenchman, The Head Of The Starboard Watch, (And A Better
Sailor Never Stepped Upon A
Deck,) sprang aloft, and, by the help
of his long arms and legs, succeeded, after a hard struggle, - the
sail
Blowing over the yard-arm to leeward, and the skysail blowing
directly over his head - in smothering it, and frapping it with long
pieces of sinnet. He came very near being blown or shaken from
the yard, several times, but he was a true sailor, every finger
a fish-hook. Having made the sail snug, he prepared to send the
yard down, which was a long and difficult job; for, frequently,
he was obliged to stop and hold on with all his might, for several
minutes, the ship pitching so as to make it impossible to do
anything else at that height. The yard at length came down
safe, and after it, the fore and mizen royal-yards were sent
down. All hands were then sent aloft, and for an hour or two
we were hard at work, making the booms well fast; unreeving the
studding-sail and royal and skysail gear; getting rolling-ropes
on the yards; setting up the weather breast-backstays; and making
other preparations for a storm. It was a fine night for a gale;
just cool and bracing enough for quick work, without being cold,
and as bright as day. It was sport to have a gale in such weather
as this. Yet it blew like a hurricane.
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