on deck, as above mentioned. Being near eight bells, the watch on deck had been not over spry ; and the consequence was that our big main-course was slatting and flying out overhead with a might that shook the ship from stem to stern. The flaps of the mad canvas were like successive thumps of a giant's fist upon a mighty drum. The sheets were jerking at the belaying-pins, the blocks rattling in sharp snappings like castanets. You could hear the hiss and seething of the sea alongside, and see it flash by in sudden white patches of phosphorescent foam, while all overhead was black with the flying scud. The English second-mate was stamping with vexation, and, with all his Hs misplaced, storming at the men:? "'An'somely the weather main-brace,? 'an'somely, I tell you!?'Alf a dozen of you clap on to the main sheet here,? down with 'im!?D'ysee 'ore's hall like a midshipman's bag,?heverythink huppermost and nothing 'andy.?'Aul 'im in, Hi say!"?But the sail wouldn't come, though. All the most forcible expressions of the Commination-Service were liberally bestowed on the watch. " Give us the song, men!" sang out the mate, at last,? " pull with a will!?together, men!?haltogether now! "?And then a cracked, melancholy voice struck up this chant: At the last word every man threw his whole strength into the pull,?all singing it in chorus, with a quick, explosive sound. And so, jump by jump, the sheet was at last hauled taut.?I dare say this will seem very