At four bells we hove the log, and she was going eleven
knots fairly; and had it not been for the sea from aft which sent
the ship home, and threw her continually off her course, the log would
have shown her to have been going much faster. I went to the wheel
with a young fellow from the Kennebec, who was a good helmsman; and
for two hours we had our hands full. A few minutes showed us that
our monkey-jackets must come off; and, cold as it was, we stood in our
shirt-sleeves, in a perspiration; and were glad enough to have it
eight bells, and the wheel relieved. We turned-in and slept as well as
we could, though the sea made a constant roar under her bows, and
washed over the forecastle like a small cataract.
At four o'clock, we were called again. The same sail was still on
the vessel, and the gale, if there was any change, had increased a
little. No attempt was made to take the studding-sail in; and, indeed,
it was too late now. If we had started anything toward taking it in,
either tack or halyards, it would have blown to pieces, and carried
something away with it. The only way now was to let everything
stand, and if the gale went down, well and good; if not, something
must go- the weakest stick or rope first- and then we could get it in.
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