The Last Time Going Round, Was Very
Nearly Her Death.
We heard her squealing and moaning one dark
night, after it had been snowing and hailing for several hours,
And getting into the sty, we found her nearly frozen to death.
We got some straw, an old sail, and other things, and wrapped her
up in a corner of the sty, where she staid until we got into fine
weather again.
Wednesday, May 18th. Lat. 9° 54' N., long. 113° 17' W. The north-
east trades had now left us, and we had the usual variable winds,
which prevail near the line, together with some rain. So long as
we were in these latitudes, we had but little rest in our watch on
deck at night, for, as the winds were light and variable, and we
could not lose a breath, we were all the watch bracing the yards,
and taking in and making sail, and "humbugging" with our flying
kites. A little puff of wind on the larboard quarter, and then
- "larboard fore braces!" and studding-booms were rigged out,
studding-sails set alow and aloft, the yards trimmed, and jibs and
spanker in; when it would come as calm as a duck-pond, and the man
at the wheel stand with the palm of his hand up, feeling for the
wind. "Keep her off a little!" "All aback forward, sir!" cries
a man from the forecastle. Down go the braces again; in come
the studding-sails, all in a mess, which half an hour won't set
right; yards braced sharp up; and she's on the starboard tack,
close hauled.
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