The afternoon would show far more accomplished.

And it did; for we returned at one o'clock, rested and strengthened by a hearty dinner.
In less than an hour I had the maintopmast on deck and was constructing the shears.

Lashing the two topmasts together, and making allowance for their unequal length, at the point of intersection I attached the double block of the main throat-halyards.

This, with the single block and the throat-halyards themselves, gave me a hoisting tackle.

To prevent the butts of the masts from slipping on the deck, I nailed down thick cleats.
Everything in readiness, I made a line fast to the apex of the shears and carried it directly to the windlass.