The Life of a Ship from the Launch to the Wreck | Page 5

out of our
course to the nor'ard, I guess. It's a dead calm."
"A dead what?" said the sick man faintly.
"Why, a dead calm," replied Ben. "When there's no wind it's a calm,
and when there's no motion at all, either in the air or in the water,
except the swell o' the sea, it's a dead calm. D'ye understand?"
"Is it fine weather, Ben?" cried Davy cheerfully.
"Yes, lad, it is," replied the sailor.
On hearing this Davy sprang, or, as the sailors call it, tumbled out of
bed. He tried to get out of it; but not being used to hammocks, he was
awkward and fell plump on the floor! However, he was not hurt; and
throwing on his jacket, he ran up on deck.
Well might Davy's heart leap and his voice shout at the beautiful sight
that met his gaze when he reached the forecastle. The sea was like one
wide beautiful mirror, in which all the clouds were clearly reflected.
The sun shone brightly and glittered on the swell on which the ship
rolled slowly; and the only sound that could be heard was the gentle
flapping of the loose sails, now and then, against the masts.
"Have you had breakfast, youngster?" inquired the captain of the ship,
laying his hand on Davy's head.
"No, sir, not yet," answered the boy.
"Run below, then, and get it, and after you've done come to me. We
must put you to work now, lad, and make a sailor of you."
The steward soon gave Davy as much food as he could eat; then he
sprang up the companion ladder, and, running to the poop where the
captain was, touched his cap, saying--

"I'm ready, sir."
"Very good, my lad," said the captain, sitting down on the skylight, or
window on the deck, which gives light to the cabin below. "Do you see
that little thing on top of the mainmast like a button?"
"Do you mean the truck?" said Davy.
"Oh, you know its name, do you? well, do you think you could climb
up to it?"
"I'll try," cried Davy, springing towards the mast.
"Stay!" shouted the captain; "not so fast, boy. You'd tumble down and
break your neck if you tried to climb to the truck the first time you ever
went up the mast. But you may go to the `maintop.' That's where you
see the lower mast joined to the top mast. Climb up by those rope
ladders--the `shrouds,' we call them." Away went Davy, and was soon
halfway up the shrouds; but he went too fast, and had to stop for breath.
Then he came to the mass of woodwork and ropes at the head of the
lower mast. Here he had great difficulty in getting on; but, being a
fearless boy, he soon succeeded. The captain then called to him to go
out to the end of the "yardarm."
Yards are the huge cross beams fastened to the masts to which the sails
are fixed. The "main-yard" is the largest. The mainsail is attached to it.
Davy soon crept out nearly to the end, but when he got there the yard
became so small and the ropes upon it were so few and slack, that the
poor boy's courage began to fail. He looked down at the water, which
seemed to be terribly far below him. At that moment the ship made a
lurch or plunge, Davy lost his hold, and with a loud cry fell headlong
from the yard into the sea. In a moment Ben Block, who had been
watching him, jumped overboard; a boat was lowered, and in less than
ten minutes Ben was picked up with Davy clinging to him.
Not long after this they drew near the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, and were
beginning to think of the end of their voyage. But one night while Davy

lay sound asleep in his warm hammock, he was startled by a cry on
deck, which was followed by a loud order for "all hands" to tumble up
and shorten sail. The sailors are usually called "hands" at sea. In a
moment Davy was on deck, with only his trousers and shirt on. But he
could not see anything, the night was so dark, and he could scarcely
hear anything except the howling of the wind.
"Take in all sail!" roared the captain. The men rushed to obey, and
Davy was so well accustomed to the work that he too climbed to his
usual place on the main topsail yard and began to haul in the sail. He
could barely see the man next to him, and it was with difficulty he kept
his hold of the yard, while the ship tossed and plunged in the waves.
When nearly all