IT WAS STILL CALM 269 



from 4 to 6 p.m. I had noticed the captain 

 and mate in anxious conversation for some 

 time, when the former said to the mate, 

 " Call all hands, and we'll get all the light sails 

 furled. Halloa ! below. Ahoy ! All hands on 

 deck to shorten sail ! " 



The boys soon responded, when the mate, 

 whose watch it was, ordered them to " take in 

 and stow snugly and carefully, so that they 

 couldn't blow loose, the royals, topgallant, 

 sails, staysails, jibs, trysail, and square main- 

 sail. Be lively about it, boys!" Now the 

 hitherto quietness of the deck was broken in 

 upon by the shouting of the men, for sailors 

 work most effectively and rapidly when they 

 can halloa ! It seems to grease the blocks and 

 sharpen the muscles, and the labour is less 

 wearisome. 



" Be sharp, boys 1 be sharp ! " he repeated. 



It was still calm, and to ignoramuses like 

 ourselves, the work seemed uncalled for, and 

 looked much like what sailors call a " work-up 

 job," not very agreeable affairs to men entitled 

 to rest. One of the crew in the top-gallant 

 yard thoughtlessly expressed himself in the 

 following style : " The d d old fool is giving 



