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Updated: June 24, 2025
"Hurrah, men! capitally done!" shouted the skipper; "you have her now," as the lugger, under her mizzen only, shot up into the wind, plunging heavily. "Ready about! and stand by to rake her with your starboard broadside as we cross her stern. Helm's a-lee! Load your port guns again as smartly as you please, my lads. Topsail haul!
"What the devil's that?" asked the mate, evidently startled at something he heard, though he appeared to smell nothing, unless indeed it might be a rat. "It sounds like water washing on rocks, sir, as much as anything I ever heard in my life!" "Ready about!" shouted the mate. "Run down and call the captain, Miles hard a-lee start everybody up, forward."
Scarcely had the order been given to "Put the helm a-lee," than the look-out forward shouted "Breakers ahead!" and the next instant a fearful crashing sound was heard. The ship quivered from stem to stern, the tall masts rocked, and those on deck, unable to hold on to the bulwarks, were thrown off their feet. It was a moment of intense suspense. The head-sheets had been let fly.
Take steady aim, lads, and do not throw away a single shot if you can help it. Ha! he is going to rake us! Down with your helm, Woodford. Helm's a-lee! Ease up your jib-sheets, forward, there! Round in upon the main-sheet, smartly, men. Let draw the fore-sheet; braces let go and haul!"
'Twas the skipper that sailed the ship, too, drove her like he'd always done: all the time eatin' an' sleepin' in the forecastle, where poor Tommy Mib lay sick o' the smallpox. But we o' the crew kep' our distance when the ol' man was on deck; an' they was no rush for'ard t' tend the jib an' stays'l when it was 'Hard a-lee! in a beat t' win'ard no rush at all.
The Double-Marriage drifting furiously this long while, in such a sea as never was; and breakers now Close a-lee, have the desperate crew fallen to staving-in the liquor-casks, and quarrelling with one another? Evident one thing is, her Majesty cannot be considered a perfectly wise Mother! We shall see what her behavior is, when Wilhelmina actually weds this respectable young Prince.
Immediately after this short dialogue the captain proceeded to give the orders for tacking in a stentorian voice, as the wind was high. "Ready, ho! ready!" he cried. All were standing ready at their posts. Then the word was given to the man at the wheel. "Helm's a-lee!" roared the captain. There was rattling of chains, flapping of canvas, and shuffling of feet.
Now I am going to tack; look out for your head, dear; I cannot afford to have you knocked overboard by the main-boom. Helm's a-lee!" Instead of returning to the brig, Leslie proceeded direct to the island where, having landed Flora, he proceeded, with some difficulty, to rouse the savages, and supply them with food and drink.
Presently the skipper, having gone as far to one side of his straight course as he thinks proper, gives the caution; whereupon the braces are taken off the pins and coiled down on deck, all clear for running, while the spanker-boom is hauled in amidships so that the spanker may feel the wind and press the stern a-lee, which helps the bow to windward.
Through the gorges leaps the pealing thunder; Lurid flashes rend the sky asunder; On my window-pane, making wild refrain, Sharply strikes the rain. Wind in furious gusts with angry railing Follows the unhappy restless wailing Of the sobbing sea, and drives ships a-lee None to save nor see.
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