I had seen the same before, in my passage
round in the Pilgrim, and knew what it meant, and that there was no
time to be lost. We had nothing on but thin clothes, yet there was not
a moment to spare, and at it we went.
The boys of the other watch were in the tops, taking in the
topgallant studding-sails, and the lower and topmast studding-sails
were and down by the run. It was nothing but "haul down and clew
up," until we got all the studding-sails in, and the royals,
flying-jib, and mizen top-gallant sail furled, and the ship kept off a
little, to take the squall. The fore and main top-gallant sails were
still on her, for the "old man" did not mean to be frightened in broad
daylight, and was determined to carry sail till the last minute. We
all stood waiting for its coming, when the first blast showed us
that it was not be trifled with. Rain, sleet, snow, and wind, enough
to take our breath from us, and make the toughest turn his back to
windward! The ship lay nearly over on her beam-ends; the spars and
rigging snapped and cracked; and her top-gallant masts bent like
whip-sticks. "Clew up the fore and main top-gallant sails!" shouted
the captain, and all hands sprang to the clewlines.
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