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The wind flattened them against the ratlines; then, easing a little, would let them ascend a couple of steps; and again, with a sudden gust, pin all up the shrouds the whole crawling line in attitudes of crucifixion. The other watch plunged down on the main deck to haul up the sail. Men's heads bobbed up as the water flung them irresistibly from side to side. Mr.
Besides this, shrouds have little cross ropes called ratlines attached to them, by means of which rope-ladders the sailors ascend and descend the rigging to furl, that is, tie up, or unfurl, that is, to untie or shake out, the sails. Our cut represents a sailor-boy ascending the mizzen-top-mast shrouds. He grasps the shrouds, and stands on the ratlines.
"No," said little Tadcaster, white as a ghost; "he is only under water, I know; waiting waiting." "There he is," cried one in the ratlines. There was a rush to the taffrail great excitement. "Keep clear of me," said Staines quietly but firmly. "It can only be done at the moment before he cuts the wire." The old shark swam slowly round the bait. He saw it was something new.
The long coils of rope were thrown upon the deck and seized by the groups of seamen detailed for the purpose; while the rigging shook under the quick steps of the alert topmen springing up the ratlines, swarming over the tops, and laying out on the yards, without a thought of the giddy elevation, in their intense rivalry each to be first. "The main royal also, Mr. Seymour," continued the captain.
Ratlines are little ropes fastened to the shrouds by which sailors may climb up or down. The painter is a rope at the bow, used to fasten small boats as a halter fastens a horse. Windward means the side of the boat against which the wind blows. Leeward, opposite side to windward. Ballast weights of stone, iron or bags of sand used to balance the boat.
This was the beginning of the new government, with everything old done away with, and the first official sign of it was a brand-new, white-painted flagpole with crosstrees and ratlines in front of the fine big house that was next built for the Commissioner to live in.
The midshipman ascended the perpendicular face with something of a nautical swagger, but inasmuch as the ledges, crevices, and projections were neither so well adapted to the hands nor so sure as ratlines and ropes, there was a wholesome degree of caution mingled with his confidence.
They had just struck eight bells; large clouds veiled the face of the moon, then in its first quarter. The sea undulated peaceably under the stern of the vessel. At that moment I was leaning forward on the starboard netting. Conseil, standing near me, was looking straight before him. The crew, perched in the ratlines, examined the horizon which contracted and darkened by degrees.
While descending the ratlines, therefore, I hastily prepared a little speech which I hoped would not prove disappointing to them.
Captain Brisac made a dash at the frigate's mizen rigging while giving the word to fire; with Markham and myself close upon his heels; but before he had fairly got a hold of the ratlines a sponge was thrust out of one of the upper-deck ports, catching him in the face, and inflicting such a blow that he fell back upon us unfortunate mids, and would have gone down between the two ships had we not caught him unceremoniously by the collar and steadied him on his feet again.
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