In an instant, every one was out of his
house; and there was a fine, tall ship, with royals and skysails
set, bending over before the strong afternoon breeze, and coming round
the point. Her yards were braced sharp up; every sail was set, and
drew well; the Yankee ensign was flying from her mizen-peak; and
having the tide in her favor, she came up like a race-horse. It was
nearly six months since a new vessel had entered San Diego, and of
course, every one was on the qui-vive. She certainly made a fine
appearance. Her light sails were taken in, as she passed the low,
sandy tongue of land, and clewing up her head sails, she rounded
handsomely to, under her mizen topsail, and let go the anchor at about
a cable's length from the shore. In a few minutes, the topsail yards
were manned, and all three of the topsails furled at once. From the
fore top-gallant yard, the men slid down the stay to furl the jib, and
from the mizen top-gallant yard, by the stay, into the maintop, and
thence to the yard; and the men on the topsail yards came down the
lifts to the yard-arms of the courses. The sails were furled with
great care, the bunts triced up by jiggers, and the jibs stowed in
cloth.
Pages:
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315