Friday, Sept. 11th. This morning, at four o'clock, went below, San
Pedro point being about two leagues ahead, and the ship going on under
studding-sails. In about an hour we were waked up by the hauling of
the chain about decks, and in a few minutes "All hands ahoy!" was
called; and we were all at work, hauling in and making up the
studding-sails, overhauling the chain forward, and getting the anchors
ready. "The Pilgrim is there at anchor," said some one, as we were
running about decks; and taking a moment's look over the rail, I saw
my old friend, deeply laden, lying at anchor inside of the kelp. In
coming to anchor, as well as in tacking, each one had his station
and duty. The light sails were clewed up and furled, the courses
hauled up and the jibs down; then came the topsails in the
buntlines, and the anchor let go. As soon as she was well at anchor,
all hands lay aloft to furl the topsails; and this, I soon found,
was a great matter on board this ship; for every sailor knows that a
vessel is judged of, a good deal, by the furl of her sails. The
third mate, a sailmaker, and the larboard watch went upon the fore
topsail yard; the second mate, carpenter, and the starboard watch upon
the main; and myself and the English lad, and the two Boston boys, and
the young Cape-Cod man, furled the mizen topsail.
Pages:
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332