"
"You are right Well, then, I'll cut it away."
"Volunteers, sir?"
"Ay, twelve: no more. Send them to my cabin."
Sharpe's difficulty was to keep the men back, so eager were the fine
fellows to risk their lives. However, he brought twelve to the cabin,
headed by Mr. Grey, who had a right, as captain of the watch, to go with
them; on which right he insisted, in spite of Dodd's earnest request that
he would forego it. When Dodd saw his resolution, he dropped the friend
and resumed the captain; and spoke to them through a trumpet; the first
time he had ever used one in a cabin, or seen one used.
"Mr. Grey and men, going aloft to save the mainmast by cutting the sail
away."
"Ay, ay, sir!"
"Service of danger, great danger!"
"Hurrah!"
"But great dangers can be made smaller by working the right way. Attend!
Lay out all on the yard, and take your time from one man at the lee
yard-arm: don't know who that will be; but one of the smartest men in the
ship. Order to _him_ is: hold his knife hand well up; rest to see! and
then in knives altogether: mind and cut from you, and below the reef
band; and then I hope to see all come down alive.
Pages:
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346