The schooner had merely to luff close to the wind, and they were in a proper state to sound.

"What means that sudden luff, sir?

This helped her to luff up towards the slip, which she reached under sufficient head-way fairly to enter it.

I was roused, at this moment, by Captain G., who shouted, "She luffs, my boys!

"Luff off there a little, Vingo; keep to the right; these bare commons are not the easiest grounds to ride over, though with a light spring-cart like this one can navigate with some degree of comfort.

With his eye riveted on the luff of his sail, his hip bearing hard against the tiller, and a heart that relieved itself, from time to time, with bitter sighs, he ruled the bark like a presiding spirit.

Under ordinary circumstances, this last dignitary would have been of sufficient skill to take the ship in: but this was the first prize Lord Harry had taken; she promised to be valuable if condemned; and I suppose he and his young, gentleman-like luffs were desirous of getting rid of their vulgar associate.

As for the frigate, she was still keeping her luff, in order to get far enough to windward to make sure of her prey.

I gave the order to luff.

Everything on the foremast still drew, and she continued on, heading direct for her enemy, nor did she attempt to luff until within two hundred yards of her, when she came by the wind slowly and heavily; a manoeuvre that was materially aided by the fore-top-mast's following the spars aft, just as her helm must have been put to-port.

The latter ship becoming too crippled to luff, while Mons.

The lead proved a better guide than Michael, and seeing some breakers in-shore of us, I gave the order to clew up the main-top-sail, and to luff to the wind, before the ship should lose her way.

Home, they could not be dragged by us, notwithstanding we got up a luff; but we made the sail stand reasonably well.

The cutter was close at hand, and the fearful manner in which these two strong-handed vessels pitched and lurched, gave me some idea of what must be our situation, should we be compelled to luff to the wind.

Her line of sailing would take her about two hundred yards to leeward of us, and my first impulse was to luff.

Ve vas dreaded vell mit de vimmen makin' luff und the kanakas glad mit it.

"I beg your Honour's pardon; I never swing my head-yards till I'm sure the ship won't luff back into the wind; and, before I tell the particulars of the wreck, I will overrun my ideas, to see that nothing is forgotten that should of right be first mentioned.

"Aye, you young luffs, Griffin, are never backward with your vows for or to pretty girls," answered Cuffe.

p. 274); also in a letter of Mr. Luff of Patterdale, to his wife, July 23rd, 1805.

" Just at this moment a strong gust of wind filled the sails, and, as James was not seaman enough to "luff" or "let go the sheet," the Speedwell same very near capsizing.

Are we not running too full?" "Luff you may, a little,luff, or we shall crush him!"

"Pack on the ship, again, Mr. Luff, from her trucks to her ridge-ropes!" The whistle of the boatswain was again heard at the hatchways, and the hoarse summons of 'all hands make sail, ahoy!'

"Get the boats into the water, Mr. Luff, and arm their crews.

The ship was left in charge of Mr. Luff, with an injunction to profit by any breeze that might offer, to draw as near as possible to the chase.

As Mr. Luff was not neglectful of his duty, it was not long before the Coquette approached her boats.