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When it is a race between the different ships of a squadron, it is pretty bad for the top-men who are the last to get their spars down. But, you see, as we are on a passage I don't suppose we shall send down spars till we get to Constantinople." "What are we going there for?" "As far as I can understand, the captain is going on a sort of diplomatic mission.
The ship's company were divided into four sections or quarter-watches, only one of which were on shore at a time, the rest remaining to garrison the frigate the term of liberty for each being twenty-four hours. With Jack Chase and a few other discreet and gentlemanly top-men, I went ashore on the first day, with the first quarter-watch.
A little too soon or a little too late makes all the difference. It is generally a race between the top-men of the different masts, and there is nothing that the men think more of than smartness in getting down all the upper gear.
"Top-men aloft there; stand by to clew up the royals and, Captain Wilson, shall we take them in? I'm afraid of that pole it bends now like a coach-whip," said Mr Pottyfar, looking up aloft, with his hands in both pockets. "In royals lower away." "They are going about, sir," said the second lieutenant, Mr Haswell. "Look out," observed the chaplain, "it's coming."
"Top-men aloft there; stand by to clew up the royals and, Captain Wilson, shall we take them in? I'm afraid of that pole it bends now like a coach-whip," said Mr Pottyfar, looking up aloft, with his hands in both pockets. "In royals lower away." "They are going about, sir," said the second lieutenant, Mr Haswell. "Look out," observed the chaplain, "it's coming."
"What are you 'bout there, mizzen-top-men?" roared the First Lieutenant, through his trumpet. "D n you, you are clumsy as Russian bears! don't you see the main top-men are nearly off the yard? Bear a hand, bear a hand, or I'll stop your grog all round! You, Baldy! are you going to sleep there in the bunt?"
Who were more liberal-hearted, lofty-minded, gayer, more jocund, elastic, adventurous, given to fun and frolic, than the top-men of the fore, main, and mizzen masts? The reason of their liberal-heartedness was, that they were daily called upon to expatiate themselves all over the rigging.
"In a couple of years or less, you will make active top-men." The master was very indignant at being thus deprived of part of his crew; but he had no remedy, and was obliged to submit. "A pleasant voyage to you, Captain Dobson," said the lieutenant.
The sailors pricked their ears at it, as horses at the sound of a cracking whip, and confusedly stumbled up the ladders to their stations. The next moment all was silent but the wind, howling like a thousand devils in the cordage. "Stand by to reef all three top-sails! settle away the halyards! haul out so: make fast! aloft, top-men! and reef away!"
The channel between the sole inlet to the bay seems but a biscuit's toss over; you see naught of the land-locked sea within till fairly in the strait. But, then, what a sight is beheld! Diversified as the harbour of Constantinople, but a thousand-fold grander. When the Neversink swept in, word was passed, "Aloft, top-men! and furl t'-gallant-sails and royals!"
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