uld snap
them like pack-thread.

The mizzen-topsail was by this time our only rag left remaining, and the
captain, evidently wishing to save this, so as to use it by-and-by when
the gale lulled, to help in bringing the vessel round again to the wind,
started off by himself hauling on the buntlines and clewlines, being
quickly aided by Jan Steenbock and little me--we being all the `hands'
on the poop except the helmsman, whom the second-mate was able at last
to leave for a minute or so unassisted, from the fact of the ship having
become more tractable since she had lost all that lot of loose top
hamper flapping about aloft.

The three of us took `a long pull and a strong pull, and a pull all
together,' according to the old sailor phrase, I tugging my best with
the others; and, possibly the ounce or two of `beef' I was able to put
into the rope so far assisted as just to turn the scale. At all events,
we ultimately succeeded in clewing up the topsail pretty fairly;
although, of course, it could not be properly stowed until some of the
hands were able to get up on the yard and snug it comfortably by passing
the sea-gaskets.

So far, everything had been accomplished satisfactorily, and the ship
was running free before the gale at the rate of ten or twelve knots, or
more, without a stitch of canvas set beyond the bunt of the
mizzen-topsail, which bagged and bulged out a bit still, in spite of our
efforts to clew it up tight.

But, now, a new danger arose.

We were bowling along before the wind, it is true; but, the heavy
rolling sea that had been worked up in a brief space of time was
travelling at a much faster rate, and there was every fear that one of
the monster billows which each moment curled up threateningly in our
wake would hurl itself on board, thus pooping the vessel and rendering
her altogether unmanageable, if not a hopeless wreck--such a mass of
water as the big waves carried in their frowning crests being more than
sufficient to swamp us instanter, and, mayhap, bury the poor _Denver
City_ deep in the depths below at one fell blow.

Captain Snaggs saw this sooner than any one; and, although all his
previous orders had been carried out in dumb show, from our now having
the wind with us to waft his voice forward, he once more managed to make
himself heard.

"Ahoy!" he shouted, putting his hands on either side of his mouth, to
carry the words well clear of his goatee beard, which was blown all over
his