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I grasped firmly one of the top-gallant shrouds above the cross-trees, but the rope being old and decayed, parted in the horn of the cross-trees BENEATH MY HANDS.
The best way that I could think of to manage this piece of work and I have not since thought of any way better was to make fast a line to the lower end of the top-gallant mast just above the cap of the topmast and to carry this line through the top-block and so down to the deck, and there to pass it through another block to the capstan and haul it taut and stop it; and when all that was in order, and the stays cut, to get up into the cross-trees and saw through the spar just below where I had whipped it with my line.
"I should think about five miles, or rather less." "Trim sails, Mr Oxbelly perhaps we may cut one or two of these off steer in-shore of them." "Exactly. Up there, my lads, set top-gallant studding sails, top-mast studdings to hand rig out the booms keep as you go now, my lads we shall be well in-shore of them, and out of the range of the batteries."
At 8 this morning the weather cleared up and the wind decreased to a fine top-gallant gale, and settled at west by south. We had more rain these 3 days past than all the voyage in so short time.
"Pray, how did she appear to you?" "Why, the fact is, I did not see anything but the loom of her hull," replied the other. "It was very strange; the night was fine, and the heavens clear; we were under top-gallant sails, for I do not carry on during the night, or else we might have put the royals on her; she would have carried them with the breeze.
The after yards are then trimmed, the captain generally looking out for them himself. ``Well the cross-jack yard! ``Small pull the main top-gallant yard! ``Well that! ``Well the mizzen topsail yard! ``Cross-jack yards all well! ``Well all aft! ``Haul taut to windward! Everything being now trimmed and in order, each man coils up the rigging at his own station, and the order is given, ``Go below the watch!
On the 19th, when they were in the Gulf of Lyons, a gale came on from the N.W. It moderated so much on the 20th as to enable them to get their top-gallant masts and yards aloft. After dark it again began to blow strong, but the ships had been prepared for a gale, and therefore Nelson's mind was easy.
I had seen the same before, in my passage round in the Pilgrim, and knew what it meant, and that there was no time to be lost. We had nothing on but thin clothes, yet there was not a moment to spare, and at it we went. The boys of the other watch were in the tops, taking in the top-gallant studding-sails, and the lower and topmast studding-sails were coming down by the run.
As hides are worth in Boston twelve and a half cents a pound, and the captain's commission was one per cent, he determined not to give them up, and sent on board for a pair of top-gallant studding-sail halyards, and requested some one of the crew to go to the top and come down by the halyards.
The lee side of the waist, the midshipman of the watch always being on the weather side, the top-gallant forecastle, and the tops were the favorite resorts of the conspirators. If any one approached, the parties in conversation were instantly to change the topic, as Shuffles had done. "I think it is about time for the election to take place," continued Shuffles, when Mr. Fluxion had gone aft.
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