Slack out the mizzen sheet a little, Jack. That's it; now she's
off again, like a duck."
The Seabird felt the relief from the pressure of the heavy boom to
leeward and rose easily and lightly over the waves.
"She certainly is a splendid seaboat, Tom; I don't wonder you are
ready to go anywhere in her. I thought we were rather fools for
starting this morning, although I enjoy a good blow; but now I
don't care how hard it comes on."
By night it was blowing a downright gale.
"We will lie to till morning, Watkins. So that we get in by daylight
tomorrow evening, that is all we want. See our side lights are
burning well, and you had better get up a couple of blue lights,
in case anything comes running up Channel and don't see our lights.
We had better divide into two watches; I will keep one with Matthews
and Dawson, Mr. Harvey will go in your watch with Nicholls. We
had better get the trysail down altogether, and lie to under the
foresail and mizzen, but don't put many lashings on the trysail,
one will be enough, and have it ready to cast off in a moment, in
case we want to hoist the sail in a hurry. I will go down and have
a glass of hot grog first, and then I will take my watch to begin
with. Let the two hands with me go down; the steward will serve
them out a tot each.
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