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Updated: June 1, 2025
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.
Helm's prospects pretty fair, and yet we shuddered when we realized our condition as slaves. This change in our circumstances was calculated to awaken all our fears that had been slumbering, and bring all the perilous changes to which we might be subjected most vividly to mind. We were about to leave the land of our birth, the home of our childhood, and we felt that untried scenes were before us.
"Silence there, fore and aft every man to his station," cried the first lieutenant through his speaking-trumpet. "All ready, sir," reported the first lieutenant to the captain, who had followed him on deck. "Shall we put the helm down?" "If you please, Mr Nourse." "Down with the helm." When the master reported it down, "The helm's a-lee," roared the first lieutenant.
Beverley's absence was not noticed by Hamilton until late on the following day, and even then he scouted Helm's suggestion that the young man was possibly carrying out his threat to disregard his parole. "He would be quite justified in doing it; you know that very well," said Helm with a laugh, "and he's just the man to undertake what is impossible.
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.
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.
"One hell of a fix we'll be in if Hamilton comes down here with a good force," said Helm. Beverley felt like retorting that a little forethought, zeal and preparation might have lessened the prospective gloom. He had been troubled all the time about Helm's utter lack of military precaution.
"About ship," "helm's a-lee." Never did the crew more strenuously exert themselves to box round the yards.
I therefore signed to the helmsman to put down his helm, and at the same moment gave the order "Ready about! helm's a-lee!" The nimble little schooner spun round upon her heel as smartly as a dancing girl, presenting her starboard broadside to the brigantine.
The reader will obtain a better knowledge of the character of a Virginia patrol, by the relation of an affair, which came off on the neighboring plantation of Col. Alexander, in which some forty of Capt. Helm's slaves were engaged, and which proved rather destructive of human life in the end. But I must first say that it is not true, that slave owners are respected for kindness to their slaves.
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