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Updated: June 1, 2025
"That'll be the best plan, no doubt," acquiesced the chief mate; and he proceeded forthwith on a tour round the decks, easing up a brace here, and a halliard there, with a touch also at the sheets and bowlines, by way of insuring an agreeable and harmonious result. When he had finished, the brig looked like a collier, and her speed had decreased from eight to a little over five knots.
As there was still a good-deal of casting to make, the ship had been brought close to the wind on the port tack; the bowlines steadied out, but not dragged, every sail a good rap full, "fast asleep," without the tremor of an eyelid, if I may so style a weather leach, or of any inch of the canvas, from the royals down to the courses.
Pluck up a good spirit, boys, 'tis within a kenning. So! we are not far from a port. I see the sky clearing up to the northwards. Look to the south-east! Courage, my hearts, said the pilot; now she'll bear the hullock of a sail; the sea is much smoother; some hands aloft to the maintop. Put the helm a-weather. Steady! steady! Haul your after-mizen bowlines. Haul, haul, haul!
We turned to as before, till our arms ached, and then we ran down and got some breakfast. We knew the value of time, but we couldn't get on without eating, any more than other people. On returning to the deck we lowered the lanterns, which had long since gone out, finished bending the sails, fitting braces, tacks, sheets, and bowlines, and were then ready to hoist away.
Move lively, men; more lively." "And-a-a-eh half-ef-four " "Stand by! What the devil are you at, sir, on that forecastle? Are you ready, forward?" "All ready, sir " "Down with your helm hard down at once " "Be-e-e-ther-r-r-dee-e-e-p nine " "Meet her! up with your helm. Haul down your sheets forward brail the spanker let go all the bowlines aft. So well, there, well.
"Some eight or ten poor fellows, I believe, Sir Gervaise; but we are ready to engage this instant." "It is well, my lord; steady your bowlines, and make room for the Thunderer." Morganic gave the order, but as his ship drew ahead he called out in a pertinacious way, "I hope, Sir Gervaise, you don't mean to give that other lame duck up.
Few or no words were spoken; and the silent ship, as if manned by painted sailors in wax, day after day tore on through all the swift madness and gladness of the demoniac waves. By night the same muteness of humanity before the shrieks of the ocean prevailed; still in silence the men swung in the bowlines; still wordless Ahab stood up to the blast.
"I am one of those, Captain Ludlow, who think more than half the virtue is out of a ship when her anchor is down!" "With a weakened crew, it may be better for us that the people have no yards to handle, nor any bowlines to steady. All our care can be given to defence." "This is much like telling the hawk he can fight the better with a clipped wing, since he has not the trouble of flying!
In two hours we shall just about speak this out-of-the-way joker." As every command was obeyed, the Sea Lion was soon running off free, her bowlines hanging loose, and all her canvass a rap full. The change in her line of sailing drought the sail to leeward, a little forward of her beam; but the movement of the vessel that made the freest wind was consequently the most rapid.
Sheets, buntlines, bowlines, lifts, reef-pendants, and halyards were fearfully snarled up. Some of the seamen on the yards were pulling one way, and some another; some declared the snarl was in one place, others in another place. The rogues had realized an undoubted success in the work they had undertaken. Vainly the midshipmen in the tops tried to bring order out of confusion.
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