It
was a moment of enthusiasm. Every one was on the alert, and even the
two sick men turned out to lend a hand at the halyards. The wind was
now due south-west, and blowing a gale to which a vessel close
hauled could have shown no more than a single close-reefed sail; but
as we were going before it, we could carry on. Accordingly, hands were
sent aloft, and a reef shaken out of the top-sails, and the reefed
foresail set. When we came to masthead the topsail yards, with all
hands at the halyards, we struck up "Cheerily, men," with a chorus
which might have been heard half-way to Staten Land. Under her
increased sail, the ship drove on through the water. Yet she could
bear it well; and the captain sang out from the
quarter-deck- "Another reef out of that fore-topsail, and give it to
her!" Two hands sprang aloft; the frozen reef-points and earings
were cast adrift, the halyards manned, and the sail gave out her
increased canvas to the gale. All hands were kept on deck to watch the
effect of the change. It was as much as she could well carry, and with
a heavy sea astern, it took two men at the wheel to steer her.
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