The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1905-08-31

CHAPTER XII.
1~1OU would better spread lit
j tie more canvas, Mr.. Sey-
|NM11sI mour. I think we shall do
~ better under the topgallant
sails. We have no time to lose"
aye, aye, sir,' replied the young ex-
ecutive officer, and then, lifting the
trumpet to his lips, he called out with
apowerful voice: LAY aloft and loose
the topgallant sails! Man the topgal-
liant sheets and halyardsv'
The crew, both watches being on
deck, were busy with the various du-
ties rendered necessary by the depar-
ture of a ship upon a long cruise, and
were occupied here and there with the
different details of work to be done
when ship gets under way. Some of
them, their tasks accomplished for the
moment, were standing on the fore
castle or peering through the gun
ports. gazing at the city, with the tall
spire of Christ church and the more
substantial elevation Of the building
even then beginning to be known as
Independence hall rising in the back
ground beyond the shipping and over
the other buildings which they were so
rapidly leaving. In an instant the
quiet deck became scene of quick
activity, as the men left their tasks
and sprang to their appointed stations.
The long coils of rope were thrown
upon the deck and seized by the groups
70
while the rigging shook under the
quick steps of the alert topmen spring
ing up the ratlines, swarming over the
tops and laying out on the yards,
without thought Of the giddy eleva-
ton in their intense rivalry each to be
first.
"The main royal also, Mr.. Seymour"
continued the captain. 81 think she
will bear it. IT'S a new and good
stick"
AYE, aye, sir. Main topgallant yard
there
"Sir?"
"Aloft, one of you, and loose the
royal as well.''
AYE, aye, sir"
After a few moments Of quick work
the officers Of the various masts in
dicated their readiness for the next
order by saying in rapid succession:
,"All ready the fore, SIR
call ready the main, SIR
"All ready the mizzen, sir.'' ....
Handsomely, now, and all together.
I want those Frenchmen there to see
how smartly we can do this" said the
captain in reply, addressing Seymour
in q tone perfectly audible over the
ship.
"Let fall! Lay in! Sheet home!
Hoist away! Tend the braces therev'
shouted the first lieutenant.
Amid the creaking Of blocks, the
straining of cordage and the lusty
heaving of the men, with the shrill
pipes of the boatswain and his mates
for an accompaniment, the sheets were
hauled home on the yards, the yards
rose on their respective masts, and the
light sails, the braces being hauled
taut, bellied out in the strong breeze,
adding materially to the speed of the
ship.
''Lay down from aloftr' cried the
lieutenant when all was over.
AYE, that will do,'' remarked the
captain 1--WE go better already. am
most anxious to get clear Of the capes
before nightfall. Call the men aft
and request the officers to come up to
the quarter deck. I wish to speak to
them''
aye, aye, sir. Mr.. Wilton,'' said the
young officer, turning to young mid
shipman standing on the lee side Of
the deck, "step below and ask the Of
fcers there and those forward to
come On deck Bentley" he called to
the boatswain, ''call all hands aft"
AYE, aye. SIR
Again the shrill whistling Of the pipes
was heard, followed by the deep tones
OF Bentley, which rolled and tumbled
along the decks Of the ship in the u.s.
ual long drawn, nlOnotonous cry which
could be heard above the roar of the
wind or the rush of the water or the
straining Of the timbers, from the
truck to the keelson, "All hands lay
aft, to the quarter deck"
The captain, standing upon the poop
deck, was not at first glance a particu.
!arly imposing figure. He was small
In stature, scarcely five and half feet
high at best with his natural height
diminished, as is often the case with
sailors, BY a slight bending of the
back and STOPPING Of the shoulders;
yet he possessed we'll knit, vigorous
and not ungraceful figure, whose care
less poise and the ease with which he
maintained his position, with his
hands clasped behind his back, in spite
Of the rather heavy roll and pitch Of
the ship in the very strong breeze, in
hcated long familiarity with the sea.
The officers, gathered in little knot
On the lee side Of the quarter deck,
several midshipmen among them, were
worthy of the crew and the command
err
men," said the captain, in clear.