Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
"Hands 'bout ship!" The cry was like the wave of an enchanter's wand in the realms of Fairy- land; for, where all had been previously quiet and easy-going, with only the helmsman apparently doing anything on board so far as the vessel's progress was concerned, there was now a scene of bustle, noise, and motion, men darting forwards to flatten the headsails and aft to ease off the boom sheets, and others to their allotted stations, waiting for the well-known orders from the captain, who stood in the centre of the poop, with the passenger beside him, looking on with a critical eye at the way in which the manoeuvre should be executed.
Three times they tried and failed; each time the vessel slowly came up into the wind, but the heavy waves forced her head off again before the headsails filled. Then the skipper gave orders to wear her. Her head payed off to the wind until she was nearly before it.
Thus it chanced that, as the tattooed man sat dozing and dreaming, he was startled into wakefulness and animation by the appearance of a flying jib beyond the western islet. Two more headsails followed; and before the tattooed man had scrambled to his feet, a topsail schooner, of some hundred tons, had luffed about the sentinel and was standing up the bay, close-hauled.
The faint back-draught from the headsails fanned his cheek and chest with a wine of coolness, and he was in an ecstasy of appreciation of the schooner's qualities. "Eh! She's a beauty, Taute, a beauty," he said to the Kanaka lookout, at the same time stroking the teak of the rail with an affectionate hand. "Ay, skipper," the Kanaka answered in the rich, big-chested tones of Polynesia.
A gust of wind canted her head away from the shores of the little bay, and in a few seconds her anchor was a-trip, and under her fore and main topsails and headsails only the Mahina wore round, and began to slip through the water. As soon as the anchor was secured Rawlings came for'ard and stood beside his chief mate, watching the shore lights. "That'll do, Mr. Barry. We're all right now.
'Barely four, from me passed unnoticed, and we touched once, but swung off under some play of the current. Then came abruptly, 'Stand by the anchor. Let go, and we brought up in mid-stream of the narrow creek we were following. I triced up the main-tack, and stowed the headsails unaided.
The cook, sticking his head out of the galley, bawled: "Mug-up! First ta-a-able!" and the first table made a rush below. When the five men sat down it was the first time they had been able to relax since the evening before, when, without lights, and under headsails only, the Charming Lass had stolen out between the reefs of Freekirk Head to sea.
If you keep together, you are certain before long to get into trouble. Will you trust me?" "We agree! we agree!" was replied on all sides. "We trust you, sir, for we know you mean us well." "Then heave up the anchor, sheet home the headsails, up with the helm, and let her cast to starboard," cried the captain, almost in the same breath.
Thus for nearly an hour and a half was the contest carried on, when a light breeze sprang up, which placed the schooner to windward. True Blue hurried aft. "If we back our headsails, Sir Henry, we shall run stern on the enemy, and may then carry her by boarding!" he exclaimed. "Right, boatswain," was the answer. "Boarders, away! follow me!" The manoeuvre was quickly performed.
Forward of the mainmast stood a cart with shafts, upright and lashed to the mast, that the headsails might work clear. The space between the masts was occupied by enormous open hatchways through which came the lowing of oxen, and through these, peering down into the hold, I saw the backs of cattle and horses moving in its gloom, and the bodies of men stretched in the straw at their feet.
Word Of The Day