At the word the men sprang into the rigging, and on all three masts were soon climbing about the yards, in reckless haste, to execute their orders.
Now, in furling top-sails or courses, the point of honour, and the hardest work, is in the bunt, or middle of the yard; this post belongs to the first captain of the top.
“What are you ’bout there, mizzen-top-men?” roared the First Lieutenant, through his trumpet. “D——n you, you are clumsy as Russian bears! don’t you see the main—top-men are nearly off the yard? Bear a hand, bear a hand, or I’ll stop your grog all round! You, Baldy! are you going to sleep there in the bunt?”
While this was being said, poor Baldy—his hat off, his face streaming with perspiration—was frantically exerting himself, piling up the ponderous folds of canvas in the middle of the yard; ever and anon glancing at victorious Jack Chase, hard at work at the main-top-sail-yard before him.
At last, the sail being well piled up, Baldy jumped with both feet into the bunt, holding on with one hand to the chain “tie,” and in that manner was violently treading down the canvas, to pack it close.
“D——n you, Baldy, why don’t you move, you crawling caterpillar;” roared the First Lieutenant.
Baldy brought his whole weight to bear on the rebellious sail, and in his frenzied heedlessness let go his hold on the tie.
“You, Baldy! are you afraid of falling?” cried the First Lieutenant.
At that moment, with all his force, Baldy jumped down upon the sail; the bunt gasket parted; and a dark form dropped through the air. Lighting upon the top-rim, it rolled off; and the next instant, with a horrid crash of all his bones, Baldy came, like a thunderbolt, upon the deck.
Aboard of most large men-of-war there is a stout oaken platform, about four feet square, on each side of the quarter-deck. You ascend to it by three or four steps; on top, it is railed in at the sides, with horizontal brass bars. It is called the Horse Block; and there the officer of the deck usually stands, in giving his orders at sea.