CHAPTER V
My First Voyage"Now, my brave boys, comes the best of the fun.
All hands to make sail, going large is the song.
From under two reefs in our topsails we lie,
Like a cloud in the air, in an instant must fly.
There's topsails, topgallant sails, and staysails too.
There is stu'nsails and skysails, star gazers so high,
By the sound of one pipe everything it must fly.
Now, my brave boys, comes the best of the fun,
About ship and reef topsails in one!
All hands up aloft when the helm goes down,
Lower way topsails when the manyards goes round.
Chase up and lie out and take two reefs in one.
In a moment of time all this work must be done.
Man your headbraces, your halyards and all,
And hoist away topsails when it's 'let go and haul!'"
(Ditty sung in early days aboard Sale
