104 ALL AFLOAT 



she was built. Her owners are the leaders of 

 the little neighbourhood, and her cargo is 

 home-grown. She carries no special carpenter 

 and sailmaker, like a Britisher, because a 

 Bluenose has an all-round crew, every man of 

 which is smart enough, either with the tools 

 or with the fid and palm and needle, for 

 ordinary work, while some are sure to be 

 equal to any special job. She of course 

 carries two suits of canvas, her new best and 

 older second best. Each sail has required more 

 skill than tailors need to make a perfect fit in 

 clothes, because there is a constant strain on 

 sails, exceeding, if possible, the strains on every 

 other part. But before sail is made her anchor 

 is hove short, that is, the ship is drawn along 

 by her cable till her bows are over it. ' Heave 

 and she comes ! ' ' Heave and she must ! ' 

 ' Heave and bust her ! ' are grunted from the 

 men straining at the longbars of the capstan, 

 which winds the tightening cable in. ' Click, 

 click, clickety, click ' go the pawls, which drop 

 every few inches into cavities that, keeping 

 them from slipping back, prevent the capstan 

 from turning the wrong way when the men 

 pause to take breath. ' Break out the mud- 

 hook ! ' and a tremendous combined effort 

 ensues. Presently a sudden welcome slack 



