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through her seams。 A sail was thrummed； and got under the bows； which
aided us in some measure； so that we began to gain upon the leak。
July 8th。 A light breeze sprang up at sunrise from the eastward；
when the mate headed the brig to the southwest； with the intention of
making some of the West India islands in pursuance of his piratical
designs。 No opposition was made by Peters or the cook… at least none
in the hearing of Augustus。 All idea of taking the vessel from the
Cape Verds was abandoned。 The leak was now easily kept under by one
pump going every three quarters of an hour。 The sail was drawn from
beneath the bows。 Spoke two small schooners during the day。
July 9th。 Fine weather。 All hands employed in repairing bulwarks。
Peters had again a long conversation with Augustus； and spoke more
plainly than he had done heretofore。 He said nothing should induce
him to come into the mate's views； and even hinted his intention of
taking the brig out of his hands。 He asked my friend if he could
depend upon his aid in such case； to which Augustus said； 〃Yes；〃
without hesitation。 Peters then said he would sound the others of his
party upon the subject； and went away。 During the remainder of the
day Augustus had no opportunity of speaking with him privately。
~~~ End of Text of Chapter 6 ~~~
CHAPTER 7
JULY 10。 Spoke a brig from Rio； bound to Norfolk。 Weather hazy；
with a light baffling wind from the eastward。 To…day Hartman Rogers
died； having been attacked on the eighth with spasms after drinking a
glass of grog。 This man was of the cook's party； and one upon whom
Peters placed his main reliance。 He told Augustus that he believed
the mate had poisoned him； and that he expected； if he did not be on
the look…out； his own turn would come shortly。 There were now only
himself； Jones； and the cook belonging to his own gang… on the other
side there were five。 He had spoken to Jones about taking the command
from the mate； but the project having been coolly received； he had
been deterred from pressing the matter any further； or from saying
any thing to the cook。 It was well； as it happened； that he was so
prudent； for in the afternoon the cook expressed his determination of
siding with the mate； and went over formally to that party； while
Jones took an opportunity of quarrelling with Peters； and hinted that
he would let the mate know of the plan in agitation。 There was now；
evidently； no time to be lost； and Peters expressed his determination
of attempting to take the vessel at all hazards； provided Augustus
would lend him his aid。 My friend at once assured him of his
willingness to enter into any plan for that purpose； and； thinking
the opportunity a favourable one； made known the fact of my being on
board。 At this the hybrid was not more astonished than delighted； as
he had no reliance whatever upon Jones； whom he already considered as
belonging to the party of the mate。 They went below immediately； when
Augustus called to me by name； and Peters and myself were soon made
acquainted。 It was agreed that we should attempt to retake the vessel
upon the first good opportunity； leaving Jones altogether out of our
councils。 In the event of success； we were to run the brig into the
first port that offered； and deliver her up。 The desertion of his
party had frustrated Peters' design of going into the Pacific… an
adventure which could not be accomplished without a crew； and he
depended upon either getting acquitted upon trial； on the score of
insanity （which he solemnly avowed had actuated him in lending his
aid to the mutiny）； or upon obtaining a pardon； if found guilty；
through the representations of Augustus and myself。 Our deliberations
were interrupted for the present by the cry of； 〃All hands take in
sail；〃 and Peters and Augustus ran up on deck。
As usual； the crew were nearly all drunk； and； before sail could
be properly taken in； a violent squall laid the brig on her
beam…ends。 By keeping her away； however； she righted； having shipped
a good deal of water。 Scarcely was everything secure； when another
squall took the vessel； and immediately afterward another… no damage
being done。 There was every appearance of a gale of wind； which；
indeed； shortly came on； with great fury； from the northward and
westward。 All was made as snug as possible； and we laid…to； as usual；
under a close…reefed foresail。 As night drew on； the wind increased
in violence； with a remarkably heavy sea。 Peters now came into the
forecastle with Augustus； and we resumed our deliberations。
We agreed that no opportunity could be more favourable than the
present for carrying our designs into effect； as an attempt at such a
moment would never be anticipated。 As the brig was snugly laid…to；
there would be no necessity of manoeuvring her until good weather；
when； if we succeeded in our attempt； we might liberate one； or
perhaps two of the men； to aid us in taking her into port。 The main
difficulty was the great disproportion in our forces。 There were only
three of us； and in the cabin there were nine。 All the arms on board；
too； were in their possession； with the exception of a pair of small
pistols which Peters had concealed about his person； and the large
seaman's knife which he always wore in the waistband of his
pantaloons。 From certain indications； too… such； for example； as
there being no such thing as an axe or a handspike lying in their
customary places we began to fear that the mate had his
suspicions； at least in regard to Peters； and that he would let slip
no opportunity of getting rid of him。 It was clear； indeed； that what
we should determine to do could not be done too soon。 Still the odds
were too much against us to allow of our proceeding without the
greatest caution。
Peters proposed that he should go up on deck； and enter into
conversation with the watch （Allen）； when he would be able to throw
him into the sea without trouble； and without making any disturbance；
by seizing a good opportunity； that Augustus and myself should then
come up； and endeavour to provide ourselves with some kind of weapons
from the deck； and that we should then make a rush together； and
secure the companion…way before any opposition could be offered。 I
objected to this； because I could not believe that the mate （who was
a cunning fellow in all matters which did not affect his
superstitious prejudices） would suffer himself to be so easily
entrapped。 The very fact of there being a watch on deck at all was
sufficient proof that he was upon the alert；… it not being usual
except in vessels where discipline is most rigidly enforced； to
station a watch on deck when a vessel is lying…to in a gale of wind。
As I address myself principally； if not altogether； to persons who
have never been to sea； it may be as well to state the exact
condition of a vessel under such circumstances。 Lying…to； or； in
sea…parlance； 〃laying…to；〃 is a measure resorted to for various
purposes； and effected in various manners。 In moderate weather it is
frequently done with a view of merely bringing the vessel to a
stand…still； to wait for another vessel or any similar object。 If the
vessel which lies…to is under full sail； the manoeuvre is usually
accomplished by throwing round some portion of her sails； so as to
let the wind take them aback； when she becomes stationary。 But we are
now speaking of lying…to in a gale of wind。 This is done when the
wind is ahead； and too violent to admit of carrying sail without
danger of capsizing； and sometimes even when the wind is fair； but
the sea too heavy for the vessel to be put before it。 If a vessel be
suffered to scud before the wind in a very heavy sea； much damage is
usually done her by the shipping of water over her stern； and
sometimes by the violent plunges she makes forward。 This manoeuvre；
then； is seldom resorted to in such case； unless through necessity。
When the vessel is in a leaky condition she is often put before the
wind even in the heaviest seas； for； when lying…to； her seams are
sure to be greatly opened by her violent straining； and it is not so
much the case when scudding。 Often； too； it becomes necessary to scud
a vessel； either when the blast is so exceedingly furious as to tear
in pieces the sail which is employed with a view of bringing her head
to the wind； or when； through the false modelling of the frame or
other causes； this main object cannot be effected。
Vessels in a gale of wind are laid…to in different manners；
according to their peculiar construction。 Some lie…to best under a
foresail； and this； I believe； is the sail most usually employed。
Large square…rigged vessels have sails for the express purpose；
called storm…staysails。 But the jib is occasionally employed by
itself； sometimes the jib and foresail； or a double…reefed
foresail； and not unfrequently the after…sails； are made use of。
Foretopsails are very often found to answer the purpose better than
any other species of sail。 The Grampus was generally laid…to under a
close…reefed foresail。
When a vessel is to be laid…to； her head is brought up to the
wind just so nearly as to fill the sail under which she lies when
ha