Navigators and Their Discoveries

           NEXTday,the27thofJanuary,thepassengersoftheMacquariewereinstalledonboardthebrig.WillHalleyhadnotofferedhiscabintohisladypassengers.Thisomissionwasthelesstobedeplored,forthedenwasworthyofthebear.

           Athalfpasttwelvetheanchorwasweighed,havingbeenloosedfromitsholding-groundwithsomedifficulty.Amoderatebreezewasblowingfromthesouthwest.Thesailsweregraduallyunfurled;thefivehandsmadeslowwork.Wilsonofferedtoassistthecrew;butHalleybeggedhimtobequietandnottointerferewithwhatdidnotconcernhim.Hewasaccustomedtomanagehisownaffairs,andrequiredneitherassistancenoradvice.

           ThiswasaimedatJohnMangles,whohadsmiledattheclumsinessofsomemaneuver.Johntookthehint,butmentallyresolvedthathewouldneverthelessholdhimselfinreadinessincasetheincapacityofthecrewshouldendangerthesafetyofthevessel.

           However,intime,thesailswereadjustedbythefivesailors,aidedbythestimulusofthecaptain’soaths.TheMacquariestoodouttoseaonthelarboardtack,underallherlowersails,topsails,topgallants,cross-jack,andjib.Byandby,theothersailswerehoisted.Butinspiteofthisadditionalcanvasthebrigmadeverylittleway.Herroundedbow,thewidthofherhold,andherheavystern,madeherabadsailor,theperfecttypeofawoodenshoe.

           Theyhadtomakethebestofit.Happily,fivedays,or,atmost,six,wouldtakethemtoAuckland,nomatterhowbadasailortheMacquariewas.