reef and furl the mizen-topsail; and this being done, from the
increase of the gale, we had before twelve o'clock to take in
successively every reef, furl most of the sails, and strike the
topgallant-masts and other spars, to make the ship snug; the
midshipmen being on the yards as well as the men, and the captain,
when the gale became severe, at their elbow. In close reefing the
main-topsail, there was much difficulty in clewing up the sail for
the purpose of making it quiet, and the captain issued his orders
accordingly from the quarter-deck, and sent us aloft. On gaining
the topsail-yard, the most active and daring of our party hesitated
to go upon it, as the sail was flapping about violently, making it
a service of great danger. A voice was heard amidst the roaring of
the gale from the extreme end of the yard-arm, calling upon us to
exert ourselves to save the sail, which would otherwise beat to
pieces. A man said, 'Why, that's the captain--how the ---- did he
get there!' The fact was, that the instant he had given us orders
to go aloft, he laid down his speaking trumpet, and clambered like
a cat by the rigging over the backs of the seamen, and before they
reached the maintop, he was at the topmast-head, and from thence by
the topsail-lift, a single rope, he reached the situation he was
in. I could mention numberless instances of this kind, but will
proceed to relate a few others fresh in my recollection. On our
arrival at St. John's Newfoundland, we anchored in the narrow
entrance in the evening; and many officers would have been
satisfied to have remained there until the morning, as we could
reach our anchorage only by the tedious and laborious operation of
laying out anchors, and warping; but we saw that the captain was
bent upon exertion, and we went heartily to work. In the course of
our progress against a strong wind, the ship had been warped up to
the chain rock, and it became necessary to cast off the hawser