That will lift her bows out of the water, if it only holds." So saying, Captain Miles yelled out for the watch below, and the men presently came out from the forecastle, Davis, the whilom second mate, along with them, the lot shambling unwillingly along the deck to the galley, where they clustered in a body.
"Now, men," said the captain, "we must try and get some sail on the ship, or else we'll have all our timbers crushed in forwards by these seas; who'll volunteer to go aloft and help stay the foremast?
It's risky work, and I don't like to order anyone to go." Not a soul spoke in answer for a minute or so, and then Davis stepped out a pace in front of the others.
For a moment I was lost in admiration of what I conceived to be his pluck; but, the next instant, I perceived I had been too hasty in jumping at this conclusion.
"What do you take us for, Cap'en Miles ?" Davis sang out sullenly.

"Do you think that men are dogs to waste their lives for nothing?
Why don't you go aloft yourself, if you are so anxious about the job ?" Captain Miles turned quite white, as he always did when his temper was up.

He was then ready to dare anything, like most men of a deep nature.
"So I will, you mutinous scoundrel!" he cried; and he was just making his way down the poop-ladder to go forwards, when Jackson, almost jumping over his head, outstripped him, being down in the waist and up to the loiterers in a jiffey.
"Come on, you cowards!" the brave fellow exclaimed, clambering up into the fore-rigging and making for the top.

"Who's man enough to follow me ?" There was no lack of volunteers now.
First one, and then another, scrambled likewise into the shrouds and climbed up after Jackson, only Davis being left below in his glory out of the whole watch.
Even he too was following; but, on Jackson shouting out something about his "not wanting any lubbers to help him," Davis sneaked back into the forecastle.
The others then set to work vigorously, rousing up the end of a spare hawser, which had been coiled round the mainmast bitts, and securing it round the foremast head.

The ends of this stout rope were then hauled aft and made fast to the main-chains on either side, when, a purchase being rigged up and brought to the capstan, the hawser was hove taut-- thus serving as a double preventer stay, to support the great strain there would be on the foremast when the fore course should be set, the mast even now bending before the gale although no sail was as yet on it.
"Now, men, loose the foresail!" shouted Captain Miles, much pleased with the sharp way in which the task had been accomplished through the men's promptitude.