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Updated: May 21, 2025
"Yes, indeed." And before they could turn round, the old man was back in his boat again, so great was his fear of dogs. And at last the skin was worn quite away from his forehead with carrying of tent-skins up on to the shore in vain. One day they were lying-to, when a wind began to blow from the north.
I was attached to the first lieutenant's party, or that which undertook the preparation of the sea anchor; and as the idea impressed me as being rather ingenious, I will describe it for the benefit of those who may feel interested in such matters, prefacing my description with the explanation that, in consequence of the springing up of the gale so soon after our action with the Frenchmen, our jury-rig was of a very primitive and incomplete character, such as would enable us to run fairly well before the wind, but not such as would permit of our lying-to; hence the need for a sea anchor, now that the necessity had arisen for us to launch our boats in heavy weather.
At the helm of the third boat, an old seaman, with determination carved into his watchful face, like the figure-head of a ship. Every man doubly and trebly armed from head to foot. Every man lying-to at his work, with a will that had all his heart and soul in it. Every man looking out for any trace of friend or enemy, and burning to be the first to do good or avenge evil.
But, as the hours wore on, the several craft gradually became more scattered, the less weatherly vessels steadily settling away to leeward, until, by the time that the dark, gloomy day drew toward its close, the fleet was spread out over a surface of ocean measuring, as nearly as one could judge, nearly or quite twelve miles in every direction: those craft that had sustained damage aloft naturally for the most part settling to leeward at a greater rate than the rest, since they were unable to dispose their canvas so advantageously as the others for the purpose of lying-to.
We shall not know which has the longest legs, till the trial is made." "You may judge of the rogue's speed by his impudence. There he lies, waiting for us, like a line-of-battle ship lying-to for an enemy to come down. Though a man of some experience in my way, I have never seen a lord's son more sure of promotion, than that same brigantine seems to be of his heels!
That ship is certainly lying-to, and yet the gale is not fresh enough to bring so stout a vessel to so short canvas." "They see us, then, and await our arrival." "No, no: Thank God, we are not yet seen! This little rag of ours is blended with the spray. They take it for a gull, or a comb of the sea, for the moment it is in view."
The little flags were fluttering at the main-top-gallant-mast-head of the Plantagenet in less than one minute, and in another it was repeated by the Chloe, Driver, and Active, all of which were lying-to, a quarter of a mile to windward, charged in particular with this, among other duties.
They both ran up the white ensign at sight of him; but this meant nothing. And in a few minutes the frigate to starboard fired a shot across his bows and hoisted her French flag. Cap'n Dick feigned to take the hint. He shortened sail and rounded at a nice distance under the lee of the enemy both frigates now lying-to quite contentedly with their sails aback, and lowering their boats.
'I only judge by cause and effect, sir; and I know that I shall have to go on shore and wait for you to-night. 'That's not unlikely; but let draw the foresheet; we must now get behind the headland. The youngster was right: that evening, a little before dark, he attended his commander on shore, the Enterprise lying-to with a lantern at her peak.
For this was indeed our destination; this was "the good country" we had been going to so long. By afternoon we were at Sacramento, the city of gardens in a plain of corn; and the next day before the dawn we were lying-to upon the Oakland side of San Francisco Bay.
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