This was
pretty tough work for four or five hands, in the face of a gale
which almost took us off the yards, and with ropes so stiff with ice
that it was almost impossible to bend them. I was nearly half an
hour out on the end of the fore yard, trying to coil away and stop
down the topmast studding-sail tack and lower halyards. It was after
dark when we got through, and we were not a little pleased to hear
four bells struck, which sent us below for two hours, and gave us each
a pot of hot tea with our cold beef and bread, and, what was better
yet, a suit of thick, dry clothing, fitted for the weather, in place
of our thin clothes, which were wet through and now frozen stiff.
This sudden turn, for which we were so little prepared, was as
unacceptable to me as to any of the rest; for I had been troubled
for several days with a slight tooth-ache, and this cold weather,
and wetting and freezing, were not the best things in the world for
it. I soon found that it was getting strong hold, and running over all
parts of my face; and before the watch was out I went aft to the mate,
who had charge of the medicine-chest, to get something for it.
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