United States or Serbia ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Train your guns inboard, let the marines fix their bayonets, let the officers draw their swords; we will not let our beards be reaped the last insult inflicted upon a vanquished foe in the East! Where are you, sheet-anchor-men! Captains of the tops! gunner's mates! mariners, all!
Indeed, at times he was wont to talk philosophy to his ancient companions the old sheet-anchor-men around him as well as to the hare-brained tenants of the fore-top, and the giddy lads in the mizzen. Nor was his philosophy to be despised; it abounded in wisdom.
"You, venerable sheet-anchor-men! and you, gallant fore-top-men! and you, my fine waisters! what do you say now for this superior old jacket? Buttons and sleeves, lining and skirts, it must this day be sold without reservation. How much for it, my gallant tars of Columbia? say the word, and how much?"
Mixing in again for a while with the general watch, he at last goes on the forecastle among the sheet-anchor-men there, at present engaged in critically discussing the merits of the late valiant encounter, and expressing their opinion that by daybreak the enemy in chase would be hull-down out of sight.
Besides these topmen, who are always made up of active sailors, there are Sheet-Anchor-men old veterans all whose place is on the forecastle; the fore-yard, anchors, and all the sails on the bowsprit being under their care. They are an old weather-beaten set, culled from the most experienced seamen on board.
Word Of The Day