nant's order had already reached the ears of every man of the
watch, and all were at their several stations, ready for the next
command.

This was not long-delayed.

"Topmen aloft! In royals and to'gallant stu'ns'ls!" he bellowed, in a
tone that put that of poor Mr Bitpin completely into the shade; his
voice sounding as if the wild bull which that gentleman had apparently
imitated, according to the facetious Larkyns, had since been under the
instruction of Signor Lablache or some other distinguished bass singer
and had learnt to mellow his roar into a deeper tone. No sooner, too,
had the hands jumped into the rigging and the studdingsail halliards and
tacks been cast off by the watch on deck and the downhauls and sheets
manned, than the "first luff," pitching his voice to yet a higher key,
sang out in rapid sequence, "Topmast stu'ns'l downhaul--haul taut--clew
up--all down!"

"Bosun's mate," he then cried, "turn the hands up!"

This was the last order he gave on his own responsibility; for, while
the men of the watch below were hurrying up on deck in obedience to the
busy boatswain's mates' whistle and shout of "all ha-a-nds," which could
still be heard ringing through the ship, Commander Nesbitt came up on
the poop and took charge.

He thus superseded his subordinate, the lieutenant; it being the custom
of the service for the commander to "carry on" on such occasions and the
officer of the watch, whoever he might be, to "play second fiddle," as
the saying goes, which part the "first luff," took in the present
instance, proceeding at once to his proper station on the forecastle.

No cessation occurred, however, in the task of shortening sail.

"Hands reef tops'ls!" shouted the commander almost on the instant he
gained the poop, following this up by the command, "Topmen aloft--take
in one reef--way aloft!"

Of course Adams and Larkyns and Popplethorne had to scramble up to their
posts in the mizzen and main and foretops, much to my admiration and
envy; for, being only a cadet, I was not allowed to go aloft except for
drill, and then only under special supervision, as I will presently
tell.

While these lucky beggars, as I then thought them, were footing it up
the ratlines, the commander sang out in rapid rotation, the orders
necessary to make the way clear for taking in the reef required--

"Weather topsail braces--round in--lower the tops'ls!"

"Trice up and lay out!"

By these being acted on, the wind