It was a sight we had not seen for weeks,- an omen, a god-send.
Even the roughest and hardest face acknowledged its influence. Just at
that moment we heard a loud shout from all parts of the deck, and
the mate called out down the companion-way to the captain, who was
sitting in the cabin. What he said, we could not distinguish, but
the captain kicked over his chair, and was on deck at one jump. We
could not tell what it was; and, anxious as we were to know, the
discipline of the ship would not allow of our leaving our places. Yet,
as we were not called, we knew there was no danger. We hurried to
get through with our job, when, seeing the steward's black face
peering out of the pantry, Mr. H--- hailed him. to know what was the
matter. "Lan' o, to be sure, sir! No you hear 'em sing out, 'Lan'
o?' De cap'em say 'im Cape Horn!"
This gave us a new start, and we were soon through our work, and
on deck; and there lay the land, fair upon the larboard beam, and
slowly edging away upon the quarter. All hands were busy looking at
it,- the captain and mates from the quarter-deck, the cook from his
galley, and the sailors from the forecastle; and even Mr.
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