And the whole breadth of the foremast, whose larboard braces had been
loosened, turned slowly. The wind then swelling the sails imparted a
certain speed to the ship.

Dick Sand then had the jib sheet-ropes loosened. Then he called the
blacks aft:

"Behold what is done, my friends, and well done. Now let us attend to
the mainmast. But break nothing, Hercules."

"I shall try," replied the colossus, without being willing to promise
more.

This second operation was quite easy. The main-boom sheet-rope having
been let go gently, the brigantine took the wind more regularly, and
added its powerful action to that of the forward sails.

The fore-staff was then set above the brigantine, and, as it is simply
brailed up, there was nothing to do but bear on the rope, to haul
aboard, then to secure it. But Hercules pulled so hard, along with his
friend Acteon, without counting little Jack, who had joined them, that
the rope broke off.

All three fell backwards--happily, without hurting themselves. Jack was
enchanted.

"That's nothing! that's nothing!" cried the novice. "Fasten the two
ends together for this time and hoist softly!"