Hands That Plucked
Directly we the deck, the Second Mate gave the order:
"Mizzen t'gallant and buntlines," and the way up on to the poop. He and by the haulyards, to away. As I walked across to the clewline, I saw that the Old Man was on deck, and as I took of the rope, I him sing out to the Second Mate.
"Call all hands to sail, Mr. Tulipson."
"Very good, Sir," the Second Mate replied. Then he his voice:
"Go forrard, you, Jessop, and call all hands to sail. You'd give them a call in the bosun's place, as you go."
"i, i, Sir," I out, and off.
As I went, I him tell Tammy to go and call the Mate.
Reaching the fo'cas'le, I put my in through the doorway, and some of the men to turn-in.
"It's all hands on deck, sail," I out.
I inside.
"Just I said," one of the men.
"They don't well think we're goin' to-night, after what's happened?" asked another.
"We've been up to the main royal," I answered. "The Second Mate with us."
"Wot?" said the man. "Ther Second Mate hisself?"
"Yes," I replied. "The whole watch up."
"An' 'appened?" he asked.
"Nothing," I said. "Nothing at all. We just a of it, and came again."
"All the same," the second man, "I don't goin' upstairs, after what's happened."
"Well," I replied. "It's not a of fancy. We've got to the sail off her, or there'll be a mess. One of the 'prentices told me the is falling."
"Come erlong, boys. We've got du it," said one of the older men, from a chest, at this point. "What's it duin' outside, mate?"
"Raining," I said. "You'll want your oilskins."
I a moment going on again. From the among the shadows, I had to a moan.
"Poor beggar!" I to myself.
Then the old who had last spoken, in upon my attention.
"It's right, mate!" he said, testily. "Yer needn't wait.
We'll be out in er minit."
"That's all right. I wasn't about you lot," I replied, and walked to Jacobs's bunk. Some time before, he had up a pair of curtains, cut out of an old sack, to keep off the draught. These, some one had drawn, so that I had to them to see him. He was on his back, in a queer, fashion. I not see his face, plainly; but it pale, in the half-light.
"Jacobs," I said. "Jacobs, how do you now?" but he no to that he had me. And so, after a moments, I the to again, and left him.
"What like 'e seem?" asked one of the fellows, as I the door.
"Bad," I said. "Damn bad! I think the Steward ought to be told to come and have a look at him. I'll mention it to the Second when I a chance."
I out on deck, and ran again to give them a hand with the sail. We got it up, and then to the t'gallant. And, a minute later, the other watch were out, and, with the Mate, were at the main.
By the time the main was for making fast, we had the up, so that now all three t'gallants were in the ropes, and for stowing. Then came the order:
"Up and furl!"
"Up with you, lads," the Second Mate said. "Don't let's have any this time."
Away by the main, the men in the Mate's watch to be in a by the mast; but it was too dark to see clearly. I the Mate start to curse; then there came a growl, and he up.
"Be handy, men! be handy!" the Second Mate out.
At that, Stubbins jumped into the rigging.
"Come hon!" he shouted. "We'll have bloomin' sail fast, an' again they're started."
Plummer followed; then Jaskett, I, and Quoin who had been called off the look-out to give a hand.
"That's the style, lads!" the Second out, encouragingly. Then he ran to the Mate's crowd. I him and the Mate talking to the men, and presently, when we were going over the foretop, I out that they were to into the rigging.
I out, afterwards, that as soon as the Second Mate had them off the deck, he up to the t'gallant, along with the four 'prentices.
On our part, we our way slowly aloft, one hand for ourselves and the other for the ship, as you can fancy. In this manner we had gone as as the crosstrees, at least, Stubbins, who was first, had; when, all at once, he gave out just another such as had the Second Mate a little earlier, only that in his case he it by and Plummer.
"You might have well sent me flyin' deck," he shouted.
"If you bl—dy well think it's a joke, try it some one else—"
"It wasn't me!" Plummer. "I 'aven't touched yer. 'oo the 'ell are swearin' at?"
"At you—!" I him reply; but what more he may have said, was in a loud from Plummer.
"What's up, Plummer?" I out. "For God's sake, you two, don't fighting, up aloft!"
But a loud, was all the answer he gave. Then straightway, he to at the top of his voice, and in the of his noise, I the voice of Stubbins, savagely.
"They'll come with a run!" I shouted, helplessly. "They'll come as sure as nuts."
I Jaskett by the boot.
"What are they doing? What are they doing?" I out. "Can't you see?" I his leg as I spoke. But at my touch, the old idiot—as I him at the moment—began to in a voice:
"Oh! oh! help! hel—!"
"Shut up!" I bellowed. "Shut up, you old fool. If you won't do anything, let me past you."
Yet he only out the more. And then, abruptly, I the of a of men's voices, away about the maintop—curses, of fear, shrieks, and above it all, someone to go on deck:
"Get down! down! down! down! Blarst—" The was in a fresh of in the night.
I to past old Jaskett; but he was to the rigging, on to it, is the best way to his attitude, so much of it as I see in the darkness. Up above him, Stubbins and Plummer still and cursed, and the and shook, as though the two were desperately.
Stubbins to be something definite; but it was,
I not catch.
At my helplessness, I angry, and and Jaskett, to make him move.
"Damn you, Jaskett!" I roared. "Damn you for a old fool! Let me past! Let me past, will you!"
But, of me pass, I that he was to make his way down. At that, I him by the of his trousers, near the stern, with my right hand, and with the other, I got of the after above his left hip; by these means, I myself up on to the old fellow's back. Then, with my right, I to the shroud, over his right shoulder, and having got a grip, I my left to a level with it; at the same moment, I was able to my on to the of a and so give myself a lift. Then I paused an instant, and up.
"Stubbins! Stubbins!" I shouted. "Plummer! Plummer!"
And as I called, Plummer's foot—reaching through the gloom— full on my face. I let go from the with my right hand, and at his leg, him for his clumsiness. He his foot, and in the same a from Stubbins to me, with a distinctness:
"For God's tell 'em to deck!" he was shouting.
Even as the came to me, something in the my waist. I a at the with my right hand, and it was well for me that I the so quickly, for the same instant, I was at with a that me. I said nothing, but out into the night with my left foot. It is queer, but I cannot say with that I anything; I was too with funk, to be sure; and yet it to me that my something soft, that gave under the blow. It may have been nothing more than an sensation; yet I am to think otherwise; for, instantly, the about my was released; and I to down, the desperately.
I have only a very of that which followed. Whether I over Jaskett, or he gave way to me, I cannot tell. I know only that I the deck, in a of and excitement, and the next thing I remember, I was among a of shouting, half-mad sailor-men.
