One of our boys was
the son of a bucket-maker; and his face lighted up as he saw the
tops of the well-known hills which surround his native place. About
ten o'clock a little boat came bobbing over the water, and put a pilot
on board, and sheered off in pursuit of other vessels bound in.
Being now within the scope of the telegraph stations, our signals were
run up at the fore, and in half an hour afterwards, the owner on
'change, or in his counting-room, knew that his ship was below; and
the landlords, runners, and sharks in Ann street learned that there
was a rich prize for them down in the bay: a ship from round the Horn,
with a crew to be paid off with two years' wages.
The wind continuing very light, all hands were sent aloft to strip
off the chafing gear; and battens, parcellings, roundings, hoops,
mats, and leathers, came flying from aloft, and left the rigging
neat and clean, stripped of all its sea bandaging. The last touch
was put to the vessel by painting the skysail poles; and I was sent up
to the fore, with a bucket of white paint and a brush, and touched her
off, from the truck to the eyes of the royal rigging.
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