not be helped; and, anyhow, they are too late; for before they can
even discover that we have the boats we shall be under way. Tail on
again, my hearties, and let us get this yard mastheaded, then our heavy
work will be done for the present. Grace, you will find a lantern in
the steward's pantry; light it, please, and bring it for'ard, but take
care that the gleam is not seen from the shore. Well, there, with the
halyards, belay! I think we have all that we can get of it. Saunders,
slip out and cast loose the fore topmast staysail. Gurney, lend me a
hand to brace round the foreyard!"

Little or no attempt was now made at concealment; we hoisted the fore
topmast staysail, and, light as was the breeze inside the Basin, the
rustling of that important piece of canvas drummed in our ears with a
sound like thunder; but I had sense enough to know that it was
exceedingly doubtful whether or not it could be heard at the settlement.
The most noisy part of our work was yet to come, however; and to it we
now bent our energies. This was the slipping of the cable. We soon had
the shackle out, and the released portion of the cable at once rushed
through the hawse-pipe with a roar that must certainly be heard at the
settlement. Then I dashed aft to the wheel and flung it hard over to
help the ship to cant, which she did with, as it seemed to me, most
exasperating sluggishness. But she paid off at last, when we hauled aft
the staysail sheet, braced up the yards, and the _Mercury_ began, very
deliberately, to forge ahead, and our great adventure was at length
fairly begun. Then, while the ship ratched across the Basin, prior to
tacking to pass out between the two Heads, Gurney and Saunders, both of
whom were exceptionally powerful men, went to work to hoist the two gigs
up to the davits.

By the time that they had got the first boat up, and the second one out
of the water, we were far enough to windward to render it necessary to
tack in order to avoid putting the old barkie ashore on the northern
beach. I was just a little doubtful whether the ship would work under
such short canvas, but we had now drawn out from under the lee of the
south Head, and were feeling something of the true breeze. The water
was smooth, and the ship had very nearly four knots' way on her, I
therefore determined to try it, and, giving the word "Ready about!" to
the others, put the helm very gently down, my aim being to sail her
round, if possible,