to take in the royals, flying-jib, and top-gallant studding-sails. The
boatswain takes a look at the gripes and other fastenings of the boats
and booms; the carpenter instinctively examines the port-lashings, and
draws up the pump-boxes to look at the leathers; while the gunner sees
that all the breechings and tackles of the guns are well secured
before the ship begins to roll. The different minor heads of
departments, also, to use their own phrase, smell the gale coming on,
and each in his respective walk gets things ready to meet it. The
captain's and gun-room steward beg the carpenter's mate to drive down
a few more cleats and staples, and, having got a cod-line or two from
the boatswain's yeoman, or a hank of marline stuff, they commence
double lashing all the tables and chairs. The marines' muskets are
more securely packed in the arm-chest. The rolling tackles are got
ready for the lower yards, and the master, accompanied by the gunner's
mate, inspects the lanyards of the lower rigging. All these, and
twenty other precautions are taken in a manner so slow and deliberate
that they would hardly catch the observation of a passenger. It might
also seem as if the different parties were afraid to let out the
secret of their own lurking apprehension, but yet were resolved not to
be caught unprepared.

Of these forerunners of a gale none is more striking than the repeated
looks of anxiety which the captain casts to windward, as if his
glance could penetrate the black sky lowering in the north-west, in
order to discover what was behind, and how long with safety he might
carry sail. Ever and anon he shifts his look from the wind's eye, and
rests it on the writhing spars aloft, viewing with much uneasiness the
stretching canvas all but torn from the yards. He then steps below,
and for the fortieth time reads off the barometer. On returning to the
deck he finds that, during the few minutes he has been below, the
breeze has freshened considerably, or, it may be, that, coming
suddenly upon it again, he views it differently. At all events, he
feels the necessity of getting the sails in while he yet can, or
before "God Almighty takes them in for him," as the sailors say when
matters have been so long deferred, that not only canvas and yards,
but even masts, are at times suddenly wrenched out of the ship, and
sent in one confused mass far off to leeward, whirling in the gale!

The men, who are generally well aware of the necessity