far as
Gravesend, if we had no objection.

We were only too pleased to have his company, and of course gave him a
cordial welcome. The moment he came on board we cast off our moorings,
ran up the jib and foresail, and slid rapidly away from the shore. The
wind was moderately fresh from the northward, so we started under
mainsail, foresail, and jib, but with the topmast lowered, as, being in
very light trim, I did not think it advisable to run any risks by
crowding sail upon the barkie.

We found, as I had expected, that on an even keel she was crank, though
not to the extent I had anticipated; but as she began to heel over her
overhanging topside supported her; so that, as the breeze freshened
(which it did gradually), the more she lay down to it the stiffer she
became.

As our confidence in her stability and sail-carrying powers thus became
established, we grew anxious to try her paces, and forthwith got her
topmast on end, the rigging set up, and put the square-headed gaff-
topsail upon her. This was a very large sail for the size of the
vessel, though, like the mainsail, it was not particularly high in the
_hoist_; but both sails were very much peaked, the gaff-topsail so much
so that the yard was almost straight up and down.

With the setting of our big topsail an immediate and very marked
improvement in speed became manifest. Before this we had been darting
along at a very respectable speed, passing some smart-looking schooners
as though they had been at anchor; but now the little craft fairly
rushed through the water, making it hiss and smoke under her sharp bows,
and leaving a long wake of bubbles behind her. She heeled over still
more, of course, but it was with a steady kind of resistance to the
force of the wind which did finally away with any lurking fears we might
have had that we were over-sparred or over-sailed.

We hove our patent log, and found that we were spinning along a good
eight knots through the water; and indeed we came up with, and passed
with ease, several vessels which were being towed down the river. Bob
and I were enchanted, and Mr Wood scarcely less so; and when, shortly
after luncheon, he stepped into the boat which he had hailed to put him
on shore at Gravesend, he said, "I am sure the little craft will come
with credit out of the ordeal through which you are going to put her,
whatever it may be; so, gentlemen, I hope you will favour me on your
return with a full account of y