The mainsails of both crafts were set, balance-reefed, and the hulls were pressed up against the wind and sea, while they were driven ahead with increased momentum.

As for keeping the ship steady in these matters of squalls, we have the mainsail on her'" "You should have furl'd your mainsail too," exclaimed a voice from behind, that was quite as dogmatical, though a little less grum, than that of the loquacious boatswain.

He called Joe for'ard to help stretch the mainsail by means of swinging on the peak and throat-halyards.

Well, here we lay, the mainsail in the brails, the top-sails beating the mast-heads, like a maiden fanning herself when she sees her lover, and nothing full but the upper duck, with the sun fairly below the water in the western board.

He knew the intricate parts of a full-rigged ship from the mainsail to the deck, from the jib-boom to the chart-house.