The mizen topsail, which was a comparatively new sail,
and close-reefed, split, from head to foot, in the bunt; the
fore-topsail went, in one rent, from clew to earing, and was blowing
to tatters; one of the chain bobstays parted; the spritsail-yard
sprung in the slings; the martingale had slued away off to leeward;
and, owing to the long dry weather, the lee rigging hung in large
bights, at every lurch. One of the main top-gallant shrouds had
parted; and, to crown all, the galley had got adrift, and gone over to
leeward, and the anchor on the lee bow had worked loose, and was
thumping the side. Here was work enough for all hands for half a
day. Our gang laid on the mizen topsail yard, and after more than half
an hour's hard work, furled the sail, though it bellied out over our
heads, and again, by a slant of the wind blew in under the yard,
with a fearful jerk, and almost threw us off from the foot-ropes.
Double gaskets were passed round the yards, rolling tackles and
other gear bowsed taught, and everything made as secure as could be.
Coming down, we found the rest of the crew just coming down the fore
rigging, having furled the tattered topsail, or, rather, swathed it
round the yard, which looked like a broken limb, bandaged.
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