SKETCHES OF SEA-LIFE. 343 



So, heedless of storm and darkness, I soon found myself follow- 

 ing Lee up the weather main rigging. Over the ratlins we 

 clambered lustily ; now into the " top," and now upon the "cross- 

 trees." Here clapping hands and feet to the large " stays," we 

 "shinned" up to the royal yard. Making up and fastening the 

 "bunt" in the middle, we each ran out on the "foot-ropes," with 

 the end of a "gasket" between our teeth, which we wound taut 

 around both yard and sail, and bringing it in fastened it to the 

 " tye," when our royal was furled. Thence slipping down again 

 we were soon on deck. 



Often since then have I recalled the peril of that first adven- 

 ture, when scarce a week at sea, and in a midnight gale, I found 

 myself swaying and quivering with the blast, in the highest part 

 of the ship now forced to cling with all my might to the yard- 

 arm, and now, in a lull of the wind, passing another turn of the 

 gasket at one moment bending with the mast far down towards 

 the water, and at the next rebounding with feet flying in mid-air. 

 And I have wondered that I could so carelessly have gazed into 

 the dark scowling sea beneath, and so recklessly laughed at the 

 howling storm. Yet such were but common occurrences. To 

 the sailor, these scenes are the romance of life, the theme of 

 "yarns," in the leisure hours. As such I too, though young, 

 enjoyed them ; and nothing ever pleased me more than a frown- 

 ing sky, and a cresting sea along the distant horizon. When I 

 reached the deck, I was bare-headed, my oil-jacket as near wrong 

 side out as possible, my inner raiment flying at loose ends, and 

 every part of me soaking wet. Finding the sails, except the top- 

 sails, already stowed, I hastened down to the forecastle ; whither 

 boy Harry came soon after, in even worse plight than myself. 

 He was swearing away " how he'd be down on that dam Dimmy 

 Duckth. The thkippy, he thend him up to the miththen r'yal 

 mit me. And he don't can do a dam thing. He hide in the 

 4 top.' " And so indeed it was. Poor Jimmy had not the heart 

 to make his first essay on such a night; and accordingly had 

 stopped at the "lubber's hole," leaving Harry to furl his sail 

 alone. 



