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At all events the inhabitants of the town would not have suspected that any boats would come from a vessel whose topgallant sails could only just have been visible.
With a brig like this all you have to do is to run up a couple of topgallant spars like those you see tucked under the bulwarks there, long thin tapering fellows like fishing-rods, and hoist a couple of square sails high up on them, and you catch the wind, and on you go." "Yes, I see," said Brace. "Then those long thin masts are ready for such an emergency."
By the time that the attack had been raging some five minutes, however, there must have been quite three hundred savages crowded on the main- deck, between the poop and the topgallant forecastle, and the affair began to wear a very serious aspect for us defenders; for by this time the blacks were making desperate efforts to climb up on to the poop and carry it by escalade, and a few of us had sustained more or less serious hurts in resisting them.
"Well, and I'm inclined to agree with you, Ready; so we must send topgallant yards down on deck, and all the small sails and lumber out of the tops. Get the trysail aft and bent, and lower down the gaff. I will go forward." Their preparations were hardly complete before the wind had settled to a fierce gale from the north-east.
My friend Tom took no notice of this and similar remarks made by others of the crew; but after having again fed me, he called to a stout-looking lad who was coming forward from the companion-hatchway to assist in carrying me to his berth under the topgallant forecastle. The lad, without hesitation, did as he was directed, and took up my legs, while Tom lifted me by the arms.
She had lost her fore and main topgallant masts, and her port bulwarks were stove in. The quarter boat was missing and her jolly boat was gone. She came along at the rate of about two knots, under close-reefed topsails, storm trysails, and spanker. We could hear Captain Gordon's voice directing the working of the ship, and once I saw him on the quarterdeck, leaning over the rail to watch us.
Some time before the admiral spoke the vessels outside, he was compelled to take in all his light canvass; and when he filled, again, after giving his orders to the frigate and sloop, the topgallant sheets were let fly, a single reef was taken in the top-sails, and the lighter sails were set over them.
"That's good. Which side does the main topgallant halyards lead down?" "Port side. Fore and mizzen to starboard." "This man's a sailor, all right. And he's not goin' out o' my place under any man's gun, 'less he's a policeman with a warrant." "Well, we'll get the policeman with a warrant," said Quincy, "unless this will do."
After a severe effort I succeeded in getting upon the topgallant yard, where I again paused I could go no further. My breath was quite gone and I had scarce strength to hold by the rigging and prevent myself from falling. The royal-mast still towered above, and below, threatened the dark face of Le Gros.
The hold is not big enough, and a good deal of the cargo has overflowed onto the deck. The stern is reserved for passengers, but from the bridge forward to the topgallant forecastle, there is a heap of cases covered with tarpaulins to protect them from the sea. There Ephrinell's cases have been put.
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