"Send a hand or two forwards to see to the fore-staysail, so as to be ready for hoisting it when I give the word!" Jackson, to whom this latter order was addressed, immediately went forwards on the forecastle, accompanied by a couple of other men; although the three found it a serious matter to escape the thick green seas the vessel took in over her bows as she dived into the trough of the waves, washing the decks fore and aft.

After a struggle, however, they managed to climb out to their station, getting the fore-staysail ready to haul up as the captain had commanded, although he only meant to use it in case the topsail carried away as we wore ship, which was very possible.
Then, watching our opportunity when the _Josephine_ was rising on the crest of a gigantic wave that had rolled up astern to poop her, but had fortunately instead passed underneath her keel, the helm was put up and the fore-yards easied round.
She answered the rudder; but one sea came in over her quarter just when she was fully exposed to the side force of the wind.

Luckily, however, everything held; and, as the foretop-sail got gradually taken aback the mizzen staysail drew, casting her stern round, so that her head at last faced the wind and sea.

The vessel plunged fearfully, but held her own grandly, not falling off again as we all expected.
"By Jingo, she's a beauty!" exclaimed the captain in high delight at the success of the manoeuvre.

"I never saw a ship behave better in my life! I was frightened of her at one time, I confess." "So was I," said Mr Marline, much relieved by our now being hove-to and better prepared to meet any change of wind.