402 A NEW-BEDFORD PILOT COMES ABOARD. 



spanker." No sooner said, than done. I sprang 

 upon the bowsprit and out upon the jib-boom, skin- 

 ning my hands fearfully, and receiving a severe blow 

 upon the head from the jibsheet-block ; both, at any 

 other time, sufficient to make me groan with pain ; 

 but now they passed almost unnoticed. "Without 

 faltering, I cast the gasket off". The jib was foul. 

 I had to lay out, and to overhaul the hoops. It was 

 done. The jib gradually rose to its proper position. 

 The sheet was then hauled aft by the strength of the 

 entire crew; but still it was not sufficient. A power- 

 ful tackle was now attached to it, and with the aid 

 of numerous arms (the captain, cook, and every one 

 else assisting) it was brought flat enough, and thus 

 secured. Arriving on deck, the clotted blood called 

 my attention to my lacerated hands ; but it was no 

 time to complain. Half-a-dozen were so wounded. 

 Our skins being dry, parched, and benumbed, the 

 least contact with any hard material produced an 

 abrasion ; which, however, no one noticed : for the 

 spanker was to be set, more reefs shaken out, and 

 the staysails loosened. 



And, hurrah again ! there came the pilot-boat. 

 !N"ow was the time: we could not lose a minute. 

 "Loosen topgallant-sails and royals!" (We dared not 

 set them ; but should the wind have moderated, we 

 would have lost no time in casting off gaskets.) A 

 few minutes more, and the pilot-boat was alongside. 

 "Is there a New-Bedford pilot in the boat ?" was our 

 liail. "Aye, aye !" came booming across the water. 

 " Send down a boat, with a barrel of pork and a tub 

 of tow-line, and he will board you." This was soon 

 effected. The pilot entered the boat, now half full 



