This meant "Sail ho!" of course, but as we
were within the point we could see nothing. "Give way, boys! Give way!
Lay out on your oars, and long stroke!" said the captain; and
stretching to the whole length of our arms, bending back again, so
that our backs touched the thwarts, we sent her through the water like
a rocket. A few minutes of such pulling opened the islands, one
after another, in range of the point, and gave us a view of the Canal,
where was a ship, under top-gallant sails, standing in, with a light
breeze, for the anchorage. Putting the boat's head in the direction of
the ship, the captain told us to lay out again; and we needed no
spurring, for the prospect of boarding a new ship, perhaps from
home, hearing the news and having something to tell of when we got
back, was excitement enough for us, and we gave way with a will.
Captain Nye, of the Loriotte, who had been an old whaleman, was in the
stern-sheets, and fell mightily into the spirit of it. "Bend your
backs and break your oars!" said he. "Lay me on, Captain Bunker!"
"There she flukes!" and other exclamations, peculiar to whalemen.
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