"All ready forward, sir!"- "All ready
the main!"- "Cross-jack yards all ready, sir!"- "Lay down, all hands
but one on each yard!" The yard-arm and bunt gaskets were cast off;
and each sail hung by the jigger, with one man standing by the tie to
let it go. At the same moment that we sprang aloft, a dozen hands
sprang into the rigging of the California, and in an instant were
all over her yards; and her sails, too, were ready to be dropped at
the word. In the mean time our bow gun had been loaded and run out,
and its discharge was to be the signal for dropping sails. A cloud
of smoke came out of our bows; the echoes of the gun rattled our
farewell among the hills of California; and the two ships were
covered, from head to foot, with their white canvas. For a few
minutes, all was uproar and apparent confusion: men flying about
like monkeys in the rigging; ropes and blocks flying; orders given and
answered, and the confused noises of men singing out at the ropes. The
top-sails came to the mast-heads with "Cheerily, men!" and, in a few
minutes, every sail was set; for the wind was light. The head sails
were backed, the windlass came round "slip- slap" to the cry of the
sailors;- "Hove short, sir," said the mate;- "Up with him!"- "Aye,
aye, sir.
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