Every one here knew his station, must be there when all hands were
called to put the ship about, and was answerable for every rope
committed to him. Each man's rope must be let go and hauled in at
the order, properly made fast, and neatly coiled away when the ship
was about. As soon as all hands are at their stations, the captain,
who stands on the weather side of the quarter-deck, makes a sign to
the man at the wheel to put it down, and calls out "Helm's a lee'!"
"Helm's a lee'!" answers the mate on the forecastle, and the head
sheets are let go. "Raise tacks and sheets!" says the captain;
"tacks and sheets!" is passed forward, and the fore tack and main
sheet are let go. The next thing is to haul taught for a swing. The
weather cross-jack braces and the lee main braces are each belayed
together upon two pins, and ready to be let go; and the opposite
braces hauled taught. "Main topsail haul!" shouts the captain; the
braces are let go; and if he has taken his time well, the yards
swing round like a top; but if he is too late, or too soon, it is like
drawing teeth. The after yards are then braced up and belayed, the
main sheet hauled aft, the spanker eased over to leeward, and the
men from the braces stand by the head yards.
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