As We
Left The Gale Behind Us, The Reefs Were Shaken Out Of The Topsails,
And Sail Made As Fast As She Could Bear It; And Every Time All Hands
Were Sent To The Halyards, A Song Was Called For, And We Hoisted
Away With A Will.
Sail after sail was added, as we drew into fine weather; and in
one week after leaving Cape Horn, the long topgallant masts were
got up, topgallant and royal yards crossed, and the ship restored
to her fair proportions.
The Southern Cross we saw no more after the first night; the
Magellan Clouds settled lower and lower in the horizon; and so
great was our change of latitude each succeeding night, that we
sank some constellation in the south, and raised another in the
northern horizon.
Sunday, July 31st. At noon we were in lat. 36° 41' S., long.
38° 08' W.; having traversed the distance of two thousand miles,
allowing for changes of course, in nine days. A thousand miles
in four days and a half! - This is equal to steam.
Soon after eight o'clock, the appearance of the ship gave evidence
that this was the first Sunday we had yet had in fine weather.
As the sun came up clear, with the promise of a fair, warm day,
and, as usual on Sunday, there was no work going on, all hands
turned-to upon clearing out the forecastle. The wet and soiled
clothes which had accumulated there during the past month, were
brought up on deck; the chests moved; brooms, buckets of water,
swabs, scrubbing-brushes, and scrapers carried down, and applied,
until the forecastle floor was as white as chalk, and everything
neat and in order.
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