The crew came to the
side to hoist in their baggage, and we gave them the wink, and they
heartily enjoyed the half-drowned looks of the company.
Everything being now ready, and the passengers aboard, we ran up the
ensign and broad pennant, (for there was no man-of-war, and we were
the largest vessel on the coast,) and the other vessels ran up their
ensigns. Having hove short, cast off the gaskets, and made the bunt of
each sail fast by the jigger, with a man on each yard; at the word,
the whole canvas of the ship was loosed, and with the greatest
rapidity possible, everything was sheeted home and hoisted up, the
anchor tripped and catheaded, and the ship under headway. We were
determined to show the "spouter" how things could be done in a smart
ship, with a good crew, though not more than half their number. The
royal yards were all crossed at once, and royals and skysails set,
and, as we had the wind free, the booms were run out, and every one
was aloft, active as cats, laying out on the yards and booms,
reeving the studding-sail gear; and sail after sail the captain
piled upon her, until she was covered with canvas, her sails looking
like a great white cloud resting upon a black speck.
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