As she passed us, and let fall her
foresail, she made the signal to make more sail, her object being to get
through the Caicos Passage, into which we were now entering, before n
ightfall. It was eleven o'clock in the forenoon. A fine clear breezy day,
fresh and pleasant, sometimes cloudy overhead, but always breaking away
again, with a bit of a sneezer, and a small shower. As the sun rose there
were indications of squalls in the north--eastern quarter, and about noon
one of them was whitening to windward. So "hands by the topgallant
clew--lines" was the word, and we were all standing by to shorten sail,
when the Commodore came to the wind as sharp and suddenly as if he had
anchored; but on a second look, I saw his sheets were let fly, haulyards
let go, and apparently all was confusion on board of her. I ran to the
side and looked over. The long hearing dark blue swell had changed into a
light green hissing ripple.
"Zounds, Captain Crowfoot, shoal water--why it breaks--we shall be ashore!"
"Down with the helm--brace round the yards," shouted Crow foot; "that's it
steady--luff, my man;" and the danger was so imminent that even the
studding--sail haulyards were not let go and the consequence was, that the
booms snapped off like carrots, as we came to the wind.
"Lord help us, we shall never weather that foaming reef there set the
spanker--haul out--haul down the foretopmast--staysail--so, mind your luff,
my man.
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