If the best part of the voyage is the last part,
surely we had all now that we could wish. Every one was in the highest
spirits, and the ship seemed as glad as any of us at getting out of
her confinement. At each change of the watch, those coming on deck
asked those going below- "How does she go along?" and got for answer,
the rate, and the customary addition- "Aye! and the Boston girls have
had hold of the tow-rope all the watch, and can't haul half the slack
in!" Each day the sun rose higher in the horizon, and the nights grew
shorter; and at coming on deck each morning, there was a sensible
change in the temperature. The ice, too, began to melt from off the
rigging and spars, and, except a little which remained in the tops and
round the hounds of the lower masts, was soon gone. As we left the
gale behind us, the reefs were shaken out of the topsails, and sail
made as fast as she could bear it; and every time all hands were sent
to the halyards, a song was called for, and we hoisted away with a
will.
Sail after sail was added, as we drew into fine weather; and in
one week after leaving Cape Horn, the long topgallant masts were got
up, topgallant and royal yards crossed, and the ship restored to her
fair proportions.
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