Old Jack | Page 9

their
stations, flew to obey their orders. I trembled as I saw the third mate,
with several other men, taking in the jib. Having let go the halliards,
and eased off the sheets, hauling away on the down-hauler; and having
got it down on the bowsprit-cap, though nearly blown out of the
bolt-ropes, stowing it away in the foretopmast staysail-netting. As the
bows of the brig now rose and now plunged into the trough of the sea, I
thought they must have been, to a certainty, washed away. The
maintopsail was, in the meantime, taken in, and I felt that I was very

glad I was not obliged to lay-out on the yard with the other men. It
seemed a wonder how they were not shaken off into the sea, or carried
away by the bulging sail. The great thing in taking in a sail in a gale, as
I now learned from Peter, is not to allow the sail to shake, or it is very
likely to split to pieces. Keep it steadily full, and it will bear a great
strain. Accordingly, the clew-lines, down-haul-tackle, and
weather-brace being manned, the halliards were let go, the
weather-brace hauled in, the weather-sheet started and clewed up; then
the bowline and lee-sheets being let go, the sail caught aback, and the
men springing on the yard, grasped it in their arms as they hung over it.
Folding it in inch by inch, they at length mastered the seeming
resistless monster, and passing the gaskets round it, secured it to the
yard. Those who for the first time see a topsail furled in a heavy gale
may well deem it a terrific operation, and perilous in the extreme to
those employed in it. I know that I breathed more freely when all the
men came down safely from the yard, Barney Bogle among the number;
and the helm being lashed a-lee, the brig rode like a duck over the seas.
There was no time, however, to be idle, and all hands set to work to
repair damages. I now saw that the captain, who appeared so fine a
gentleman in harbour, or when there was nothing to do, could work as
well, if not rather better, than any one. With his coat off, and saw, axe,
or hammer in hand, he worked away with the carpenter in fitting a new
rail, and planking up the bulwarks; and the steward had twice to call
him to breakfast before he obeyed the summons. His example inspired
the rest; and in a very short time the bulwarks were made sufficiently
secure to serve till the return of fine weather.
"I told you, Jack, that you would have a taste of the bitters of a sea-life
before long," said Peter, as soon as he had time to have a word with me.
"Let me tell you, however, that this is just nothing, and that we shall be
very fortunate if we do not fall in with something much worse before
long."
I knew that Peter would not unnecessarily alarm me, and so I looked up
at the dark clouds driving across the sky, and saw the hissing, foaming
waves dancing up wildly around us, looking as if every moment they

were ready to swallow up the brig, I asked myself what worse could
occur, without our going to the bottom. I had never then been in a
regular hurricane or a typhoon, or on a lee-shore on a dark night,
surrounded by rocks, or among rapid currents, hurrying the ship within
their power to destruction; nor had I been on board a craft when all
hands at the pumps could scarcely keep her afloat; nor had I seen a fire
raging. Indeed, I happily knew nothing of the numberless dangers and
hardships to which a seaman in his career is exposed. I must not say
that I was in any way frightened. I resolved to keep a bold heart in my
body. "Never mind," I answered to Peter's remark; "while I've got you
and the captain on board, I don't fear anything."
Peter laughed. "We may be very well in our way," said he; "but, Jack,
my advice is: Trust in God, and hold on by the weather-rigging. Should
the ship go down, look out for spar or a plank if there's no boat afloat;
and if you can find nothing, swim as long as you can; but whatever you
do, trust in God."
I have never forgotten Peter's advice. Never have I found that trust
deceive me; and often and often have I been mercifully preserved when
I had every reason to believe that my last hour had come. I should
remark also that, badly off as I have often fancied myself, I have soon
had reason to