When This Was Fast, We Laid Down On Deck,
Manned The Halyards To Leeward, Nearly Up To Our Knees In
Water,
set the topsail, and then laid aloft on the main topsail yard,
and reefed that sail in the same
Manner; for, as I have before
stated, we were a good deal reduced in numbers, and, to make
it worse, the carpenter, only two days before, cut his leg with
an axe, so that he could not go aloft. This weakened us so that
we could not well manage more than one topsail at a time, in such
weather as this, and, of course, our labor was doubled. From the
main topsail yard, we went upon the main yard, and took a reef in
the mainsail. No sooner had we got on deck, than - "Lay aloft there,
mizen-top-men, and close-reef the mizen topsail!" This called me;
and being nearest to the rigging, I got first aloft, and out to
the weather earing. English Ben was on the yard just after me,
and took the lee earing, and the rest of our gang were soon on
the yard, and began to fist the sail, when the mate considerately
sent up the cook and steward, to help us. I could now account
for the long time it took to pass the other earings, for, to do
my best, with a strong hand to help me at the dog's ear, I could
not get it passed until I heard them beginning to complain in the
bunt.
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