After About Eight Days Of Constant Easterly Gales, The Wind
Hauled Occasionally A Little To The Southward, And Blew Hard,
Which, as we were well to the southward, allowed us to brace
in a little and stand on, under all
The sail we could carry.
These turns lasted but a short while, and sooner or later it set
again from the old quarter; yet each time we made something,
and were gradually edging along to the eastward. One night,
after one of these shifts of the wind, and when all hands had been
up a great part of the time, our watch was left on deck, with the
mainsail hanging in the buntlines, ready to be set if necessary.
It came on to blow worse and worse, with hail and snow beating
like so many furies upon the ship, it being as dark and thick as
night could make it. The mainsail was blowing and slatting with
a noise like thunder, when the captain came on deck, and ordered
it to be furled. The mate was about to call all hands, when the
captain stopped him, and said that the men would be beaten out if
they were called up so often; that as our watch must stay on deck,
it might as well be doing that as anything else.
Accordingly, we went upon the yard; and never shall I forget
that piece of work. Our watch had been so reduced by sickness,
and by some having been left in California, that, with one man
at the wheel, we had only the third mate and three beside myself,
to go aloft; so that at most, we could only attempt to furl one
yard-arm at a time.
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