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No sooner were the last words out of the old man's mouth, than his sons did exactly as they had been directed. The fore and main halyards were cut, and the two graplings cast off at the same instant, and, as the heavy gaffs came rattling down, our five heroes leaped on board the pirate.
Well, no matter what happens, put this down, Maurice Blake hangs to his canvas longer than Sam Hollis to-day hangs to it or goes over with it or the spars come out of the Johnnie Duncan." After the talking was over we thought Hollis would be shamed into sending a man aloft to mouse his halyards too. But not for Hollis. That was a little too much for him.
With these, after the loss of some precious moments, the fort at last made fire. It was answered by a terrific broadside from the Arabella, which had now drawn abreast, and was crowding canvas to her yards. The enraged and gibbering Spaniards had a brief vision of her as the line of flame spurted from her red flank, and the thunder of her broadside drowned the noise of the creaking halyards.
"Well there with the windlass!" cried Carter delightedly. "Let go your to'gallant and topsail halyards and sheets; man your clewlines; fore and main clew-garnets. Stand by to let go the anchor!" "Ay, ay, sir!" was the response from the topgallant forecastle. "All ready with the anchor. Stand clear of the cable!"
None of the halyards were racked, nor sheets stoppered. This was a precaution we always took, on account of the craft's being so tender. We first spliced the main-brace and then got our suppers, eating between the guns, where we generally messed, indeed.
The hands were thrilling for the order, and the great sail came with a run, and fell half overboard among the racing foam. "Jib top-sail halyards! Let the stays'l be," he said again. But before it was well uttered, the squall shouted aloud and fell, in a solid mass of wind and rain commingled, on the Farallone; and she stooped under the blow, and lay like a thing dead.
The halyards were let go, and the yard clewed down, and the sheets started, and in a few minutes the sails smothered and kept in by clewlines and buntlines. ``Furl 'em, sir? asked the mate. ``Let go the topsail halyards, fore and aft! shouted the captain in answer, at the top of his voice.
Pausing long enough to let go the jib halyards, and just as the Reindeer cleared and began to drift astern, I leaped aboard the junk with a line and made fast. He of the yellow handkerchief and pock-marked face came toward me threateningly, but I put my hand into my hip pocket, and he hesitated.
The energetic motions of the men on the disabled vessel could be dimly seen through the mist and rain. "Hoist the jib, Terrill," said Captain Kendall. "We will run up to the wreck, and ascertain what the trouble is." "Man the jib halyards! Stand by the jib sheet!" added Terrill. "All ready, sir!" "Let go the downhaul! Hoist away!" continued the first lieutenant. "Port the helm!"
I sprang aloft to take in the main top-gallant studding-sail, but before I got into the top, the tack parted, and away went the sail, swinging forward of the top-gallant-sail, and tearing and slatting itself to pieces. The halyards were at this moment let go by the run; and such a piece of work I never had before, in taking in a sail.
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