One night, after one of these shifts of the
wind, and when all hands had been up a great part of the time, our
watch was left on deck, with the mainsail hanging in the buntlines,
ready to be set if necessary. It came on to blow worse and worse, with
hail and snow beating like so many furies upon the ship, it being as
dark and thick as night could make it. The mainsail was blowing and
slatting with a noise like thunder, when the captain came on deck, and
ordered it to be furled. The mate was about to call all hands, when
the captain stopped him, and said that the men would be beaten out
if they were called up so often; that as our watch must stay on
deck, it might as well be doing that as anything else. Accordingly, we
went upon the yard; and never shall I forget that piece of work. Our
watch had been so reduced by sickness, and by some having been left in
California, that, with one man at the wheel, we had only the third
mate and three beside myself to go aloft; so that at most, we could
only attempt to furl one yard-arm at a time. We manned the weather
yard-arm, and set to work to make a furl of it.
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