- ping, the main-boom is eased off handsomely
by the owner and myself, while the rest of the boys busy themselves with the spinnaker. As the boom is lowered, the sail neatly done up in stops is smartly hoisted to the topmast head. The after guy is hauled aft, the outhaul is manned, and with three tugs on the sheet the big sail bellies to the blast and pulls nobly.
Now a more powerful puff than ever smites the Phantom. Its force makes the spinnaker boom up-end and the spinnaker itself puff out like a balloon. But both spar and duck are of the best and no misfortune befalls them. The balloon jib-topsail now takes the place of No. 2, so that if the wind shifts we shall be ready for it. When this is done all hands lie aft so as to lift her bow as much as possible, while not burying her counter, and, standing up so as to catch every breath of wind that is going to waste, are regaled on beer and sandwiches, which the steward passes round. He, like the willing and zealous fellow that he is, has been pulling and hauling with the rest of the crowd, and is puffing like a porpoise after the unusual exertion.
In planning the day's campaign it has been settled that we shall steer a direct course from the first to the second mark. We know that we have no chance to run before the wind so fast as the Ghost, which is now only twenty seconds astern of us, and is bound to
