The Sea-Wolf

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London, Jack

"The Sea-Wolf"

And there on the deck was a single stick of timber to show for a whole morning's work. For the first time I thoroughly realized the extent of the task before us. But I was learning, I was learning. The afternoon would show far more accomplished. And it did; for we returned at one o'clock, rested, and strengthened by a hearty dinner.

? ? ? ? In less than an hour I had the maintopmast on deck and was constructing the shears. Lashing the two topmasts together, and making allowance for their unequal length, at the point of intersection I attached the double block of the mainthroat-halyards. This, with the single block and throat-halyards themselves, gave me a hoisting-tackle. To prevent the butts of the masts from slipping on the deck, I nailed down thick cleats. Everything in readiness, I made a line fast to the apex of the shears and carried it directly to the windlass. I was growing to have faith in that windlass, for it gave me power beyond all expectation. As usual, Maud held the turn while I heaved. The shears rose in the air.

? ? ? ? Then I discovered I had forgotten guyropes.

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Experiments and Considerations Touching Colours (1664) (page 205) The Swiss Family Robinson; or Adventures in a Desert Island (page 31) The Universal Copyright Convention (1988) (page 3)

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London, Jack

"The Sea-Wolf"