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It occurred to me as probable that the lady would have even more to say to him. He stepped into the cutter, and, as they pushed off, was hilariously bonneted by Mr. Dalmahoy, by way of parting salute. "Starboard after-braces!" Captain Colenso called to his crew.
Marble and I were conversing on the forecastle at the time, our eyes turned to the westward, for it was scarcely possible for him to look in any other direction, when he interrupted himself, by shouting out "hard up with the helm spring to the after-braces, my lads man mizen-staysail downhaul!" This set everybody in motion, and the captain and third-mate were on deck in a minute.
At last, the boat was pulled boldly to the gangway, and the excitable gentleman in spectacles, seizing hold of the after-braces, bowed and handed me a card, and begged, in bad French, that he might be permitted to come on board. Permission was soon obtained from R , and, with hat in hand, on board the Dane, as I fancied, jumped, accompanied, of course, by the other gentleman.
The whole of the cabins were one body of fire, and at about 8.30 P. M. flames burst through the upper deck, and shortly after the mizzen rigging caught fire. Fears were entertained of the ship paying off, in which case the flames would have been swept forwards by the wind; but fortunately the after-braces were burnt through, and the main-yard swung round, which kept the ship's head to wind.
They can't eat us; and if they meditate running alongside, they will see we are prepared for them." "Put the helm down, my lad, round in the weather after-braces, and lay the main-yard square brace up the head yards rouse in the main sheet ease off the head sheets."
Let go your lee main-braces and round in to windward gently now; not too quick; that's well; catch a turn with your after-braces and then square the fore-yard; well with the fore-braces; belay all and coil up. Ah! I expected that."
The first thing we did was to clew up the three top-gallant-sails. This gave us a much easier command of the vessel, short-handed as we were, and it rendered it less hazardous to the spars to keep the Dawn on a wind. When this was done, I ordered the after-braces manned, and the leaches brought as near as possible to touching.
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