 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 hauled flat aft, - that is,
when brought diagonally across the vessel. This being done, the bows point
within a few degrees of the direction from which the wind issues, and the
windward bow of course receives the shock of the waves. In this situation a good
vessel will ride out a very heavy gale of wind without shipping a drop of water,
and without any further attention being requisite on the part of the crew. The
helm is usually lashed down, but this is altogether unnecessary (except on
account of the noise it makes when loose), for the rudder has no effect upon the
vessel when lying-to. Indeed, the helm had far better be left loose than lashed
very fast, for the rudder is apt to be torn off by heavy seas if there be no
room for the helm to play. As long as the sail holds, a well-modelled vessel
will maintain her situation, and ride every sea, as if instinct with life and
reason. If the violence of the wind, however, should tear the sail into pieces
(a feat which it requires a perfect hurricane to accomplish under ordinary
circumstances), there is then imminent danger. The vessel falls off from the
wind, and, coming broadside to the sea, is completely at its mercy: the only
recourse in this case is to put her quietly before the wind, letting her scud
until some other sail can be set. Some vessels will lie-to under no sail
whatever, but such are not to be trusted at sea.
    But to return from this digression. It had never been customary with the
mate to have any watch on deck when lying-to in a gale of wind, and the fact
that he had now one, coupled with
