Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 24, 2025
Stand off from the leech of the sail. Hoh! belay, here make fast below; hoh, helm a-lee, lash sure the helm a-lee, and let her drive. Is it come to that? said Pantagruel; our good Saviour then help us. Let her lie under the sea, cried James Brahier, our chief mate; let her drive. To prayers, to prayers; let all think on their souls, and fall to prayers; nor hope to escape but by a miracle.
Draw away your head-sheet, boy." The stranger had put the helm a-lee, while speaking, and by the time the order he had given was uttered, the quick-working boat was about, and nearly filled on the other tack. In another minute, she was again brushing along the side of the sloop-of-war.
We had by this time brought the Beacon shoal about one point abaft the weather-beam, and I was of opinion that we could weather it on the next tack; I therefore gave the word, "Ready about Helm's a-lee!" and directed the helmsman to ease down the helm.
"Hard a-lee!" would come the command, and some men would go down into the smother of the lee rail and haul in or slack away sheets, while others at the mastheads would shift top- and staysail tacks. Her head would swing, there would be a minute of thrashing and roaring of gear, and the gale would leap into her sails and bend her down on her side again. Then away she would go.
The watch at once ran to their respective stations, Tom Jerrold and I with a couple of others attending to the cross-jack yard. "All ready forrud?" "Aye, aye, sorr," shouted back Tim Rooney from the forecastle, "all ready forrud." "Helms a-lee!" The head sheets were let go as the captain roared out this order, the jib flattening as the vessel went into stays.
Helm's a-lee!" Round swept the Dolphin again, and presently we were once more crossing the stern of the lugger, the confusion on board being, as it seemed, greater than ever.
We had been driven a long way to the nor'ard of the Gulf Stream, and the weather was cold and bad, when one night, just as I had come on deck to keep the middle watch, and had gone to the wheel, I looked up and thought I saw a great white glittering cloud right ahead of us. I sang out, and the first mate, who was officer of the watch, crying, `Hard a-lee! ran forward.
"Ugly sea on the lee-bow!" was heard again from forward, and all in that direction seemed suddenly to have become a mass of white. "Ready about! hard a-lee!" and with a great lurch the old craft went about once more, the renewed shrieking in every kind of pitch in the rigging, and the blinding dash of spray, showing to what a hurricane the gale had risen.
"See! see! there is lift tacks and sheets! the helm's a-lee! she's coming round!" shouted Tarbox. "We are seen! we are seen!" The ship was standing towards us. We had now no doubts of her being a large English merchantman. She was a new ship, too, apparently. Presently she was hove to. A boat was lowered, and with rapid strokes pulled towards us. "Who are you?
We will tack the ship, if you please, Mr Bryce." "Ay, ay, sir. Hands 'bout ship!" responded the chief-mate; and in a minute or two the men were at their stations. "All ready, sir!" reported Mr Bryce Captain Blyth walked aft to the mizen-rigging, signed to the helmsman, and gave the word: "Helm's a-lee!"
Word Of The Day
Others Looking