In an instant
the gaskets were off and the bunt dropped. "Sheet home the fore
royal!- Weather sheet's home!"- "Hoist away, sir!" is bawled from
aloft. "Overhaul your clew-lines!" shouts the mate. "Aye, aye, sir,
all clear!"- "Taught leech! belay! Well the lee brace; haul taught to
windward"- and the royals are set. These brought us up again; but the
wind continuing light, the California set hers, and it was soon
evident that she was walking away from us. Our captain then hailed,
and said that he should6 keep off to his course; adding- "She isn't
the Alert now. If I had her in your trim, she would have been out of
sight by this time." This was good-naturedly answered from the
California, and she braced sharp up, and stood close upon the wind
up the coast; while we squared away our yards, and stood before the
wind to the south-southwest. The California's crew manned her
weather rigging, waved their hats in the air, and gave up three hearty
cheers, which we answered as heartily, and the customary single
cheer came back to us from over the water. She stood on her way,
doomed to eighteen months' or two years' hard service upon that
hated coast, while we were making our way to our home, to which
every hour and every mile was bringing us nearer.
Pages:
475
476
477
478
479
480
481
482
483
484
485
486
487
488
489
490
491
492
493
494
495
496
497
498
499