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Dana, Richard Henry

"Two Years Before The Mast"

Our
captain gave a few orders, but as Wilson generally countermanded them,
saying, in an easy, fatherly kind of way, "Oh no! Captain T---, you
don't want the jib on her," or "It isn't time yet to heave!" he soon
gave it up. We had no objections to this state of things, for Wilson
was a kind old man, and had an encouraging and pleasant way of
speaking to us, which made everything go easily. After two or three
hours of constant labor at the windlass, heaving and "Yo ho!"-ing with
all our might, we brought up an anchor, with the Loriotte's small
bower fast to it. Having cleared this and let it go, and cleared our
hawse, we soon got our other anchor, which had dragged half over the
harbor. "Now," said Wilson, "I'll find you a good berth;" and
setting both the topsails, he carried us down, and brought us to
anchor, in handsome style, directly abreast of the hide-house
which we were to use. Having done this, he took his leave, while we
furled the sails, and got our breakfast, which was welcome to us,
for we had worked hard, and it was nearly twelve o'clock. After
breakfast, and until night, we were employed in getting out the
boats and mooring ship.


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