The interested and curious spectators closed round the seamen. All being ready, two of the latter seized the rope, and as the 'animal' ascended the hands sang the old sea chanty:
'I say, old man, your horse must die,
We say so, and we hope so.
I say, old man, your horse must die:
Oh, poor old man.
But should he live we'll ride him ag'in,
We say so, and we hope so.
And if he dies we'll tan his skin:
Oh, poor old man.'
The figure was thus hauled out to the yardarm, and being cut adrift fell into the sea, where it was several times dragged below the surface, but always released, by inquisitive sharks.
The meaning of that procedure was, that on that day the crew had completed one month's work in lieu of the advance of money obtained on signing articles, and having thus 'worked off the dead horse,' as the debt is styled, they would now be earning wages. Captain Thorne addressed all hands.
'You will remember,' he said, 'that this day, the tenth of March, is not alone made memorable by our crossing of the line, but that, in London, His Royal Highness, Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, and the Princess Alexandra of Denmark, become husband and wife. God bless them! I call for three cheers; and three more for our beloved Sovereign, Queen Victoria, who, since her occupation of the British throne, has endeared herself to her people. God bless her too! Hip, hip, hurrah!'
The simple words touched the hearts of the assembled throng. Many a husband and wife recalled their own wedding-day, and up rose a succession of heart-stirring cheers.
The clipper, momentarily steadied on an even keel, seemed to listen too, and tremble under the outburst.
'Well done, and I thank you all,' the captain said. And thus ended that crossing of the line on board the 'Silver Crown.'
A few days later the first breath of the anxiously awaited south-east trade wind struck the vessel.