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Updated: May 7, 2025
One of the main-topgallant shrouds had parted; and to crown all, the galley had got adrift and gone over to leeward, and the anchor on the lee bow had worked loose and was thumping the side. Here was work enough for all hands for half a day.
So, as the Juliet happened to be a pretty smart vessel under her canvas, and in splendid sailing trim, I thought I would do what I could to keep the stranger at arms'-length, and when the watch was called, a few minutes afterwards, I got the topgallant-sails, royals, flying jib, main-topgallant, royal, and mizen- topmast-staysails all on the old barkie again, and we began to smoke through it, I can tell you.
The motion of the ship was now very little: she only rolled very slowly from one side to the other; the sea and wind had gone down, and the sun shone brightly over their heads; the boat had been out of sight some time, and the ship did not go through the water faster than three miles an hour, for she had no other sail upon her than the main-topgallant sail hoisted up on the stump of the foremast.
Stays and braces grew tauter and tauter, studden sail-booms cracked, and the topgallant masts bent like willow wands. "We are going to get it," observed the captain of the top. He was right. Away flew the main-topgallant studden sail; the topmast studden sail followed. At the same moment, the foremost guns with a loud roar sent a couple of shot after the chase.
On looking over the larboard bulwark rail, the first thing I saw was a ship about two miles off. She was on the larboard tack, under courses, topsails, and main-topgallant sail, heading as if to cross my bows.
But even here he was not left in peace, for Billy Widgeon came up to compliment him on his climbing. "Look ye here, Mr Strong, sir, you'll do it. You come up with me and we'll go right up to the main-topgallant cross-trees to-morrow. I'll see as you don't fall." "Oh, bother the climbing!" cried Mark. "I wish there wasn't a bit of rigging in the ship."
Now look here, I'm going to mast-head you. Got your glass?" "Yes, sir." "Then up with you, right to the main-topgallant cross-trees. Notice everything you can."
Thus we have the main shrouds, the main-top-mast shrouds, and the main-topgallant shrouds; the main back-stay, the main-topgallant back-stay, and so on those of the other masts being similarly named, with the exception of the first word, which, of course, indicates the particular mast referred to.
Captain Osborn was on the forecastle giving some orders to the men, when the strap of the block which hoisted up the main-topgallant yard on the stump of the foremast gave way, the yard and sail came down on the deck, and struck him senseless.
By the time that the decks were clear of water, and we were free to think of other matters than our own individual safety, the four men who had been flung overboard and one of whom was O'Gorman had disappeared for ever, and we had made the discovery that we had lost our bowsprit and main-topgallant mast, as well as the fore-topmast, and that we had more than four feet of water in the hold.
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