Eh! but I was dumfoundered to see the lads rinning up the rigging like sae mony monkeys. And while I was standing glowering at them, a young midshipman ca'd to me, "Holloa! you, Wilson!—don't you know you're a mizzentopman?—Spin up and loose the topsail!"
"Me gang up, sir!—I canna, sir, I'd tumble."
"Can't, sir! there's no such word on board ship. Up you go; and if you're afraid of falling, hold on with your teeth!"
"So I was obleeged to gang up; but I was a' in a tremble, and just was up to the top in time to creep doun again; for the sails were a' loose, and a' the lads coming doun. Eh! hoo the sailors did laugh at me! But, in a fortnight's time, there wasna ane amang them could lay saut on my tail. But what's the use o' my fashing yer honour wi' a' thae idle clavers? Nae doot ye're tired o' them already."
"Oh no, Tom!" said I, "go on; I am much amused, I assure you; but you'd better moisten your lips out of my flask before you go on."
"Thank ye, sir!"
Eh, but I thocht it a bonny sicht, when I lookit frae the rigging, where I was hauding on wi' a' my fingers, like a fleyed kitlin, to see the men a' lying oot on the different yards, loosening the rapes that keep the sails rowed up—(they ca' them gaskets). Then the chief mate cried oot, "Are you all ready there, forward!"
"All ready, sir."
"Are you ready in the maintop?"
"All ready, sir."