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Of course it was no great job to make a cradle for a boat, and our boat-builder had 'wedged up, and got the keel of his craft off the 'blocks, within eight-and-forty hours after he had begun upon that part of his task. It only remained to knock away the spur-shores and start the boat.
After this the spur-shores were knocked away, and to the blare of trumpets and the roll of drums, Mrs Saint Leger dashed a bottle of wine against the great cutwater of the gaily bedizened ship as she began to move down the ways, exclaiming, as she did so: "God bless the good ship Nonsuch and all who are to sail in her!"
Ella took up a position under the bows, supported by my father, who instructed her how to perform the ceremony of christening after the most approved fashion, whilst Winter and I stood by to knock away the spur-shores, and the second native launched and jumped into a canoe, to go alongside and fetch Bob ashore, as soon as his share of the duty was performed. When we had all taken our stations
Upon hearing this Dick placed the bottle of wine in Flora's hand, and, telling her when to act and what to say, stationed himself, with a heavy sledge-hammer in his hand, at one of the spur-shores, Simpson, similarly provided, going to the other. Then "Are you all ready?" shouted Dick. "Ay, ay, sir, all ready!" answered Simpson, swaying up the heavy hammer over his shoulder.
At length Mark succeeded in subduing this feeling, and he resumed his work with most of his former self-command. Everything being ready, he knocked away the spur-shores, and, finding the boat did not start, he gave it a blow with a mawl.
The reserve were under her bottom, intending to make a stand behind the covers of the yard, when Mark found himself at one of the spur-shores, just as Brown, armed to the teeth, came up to the other. "Lay aside your arms," cried the governor, "and knock away your spur-shore, Bill! Down with it, while I knock this away! Look out on deck, for we are about to launch you!"
Monsieur Le Compte then took his station in the head of the schooner. Making a profound bow to Emily, as if to ask her permission, the signal was given; the spur-shores were knocked away, and the little craft slid off into the water so easily, making so little ripple as she shot a hundred fathoms into the bay, as to give the assurance she would prove a fast vessel.
"Then strike!" yelled Dick; and crash fell the two hammers simultaneously; down dropped the spur-shores, and a tremor appeared to thrill the little craft throughout her entire fabric. For a single moment she seemed to hang to Dick's unmitigated consternation, but the next second he saw her begin to move with an almost imperceptible gliding motion toward the water.
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