"Ay, ay, sir," answered the mate, and he sprang quickly on deck. "All hands shorten sail!" he shouted. "Be smart, my lads, or we may have old Harry Cane aboard us before we have time to open our weather eyes." He knew well that a joke would tend to inspirit the downcast crew, most of whom were Irishmen--the _Ouzel Galley_ belonging to Dublin, though trading chiefly to the fair port of Waterford. She was a deep-waisted vessel, with three masts, the foremast and mainmast square-rigged, while the aftermast carried a long lateen-shaped sail called the mizen, with a square topsail and topgallantsail. The mainsail and foresail having been brailed up and handed, Owen ordered the crew aloft to furl the main-topsail. "Gerald, lend me a hand to furl the mizen!" he sang out to a lad who had been actively engaged in the former operation. Gerald Tracy, the captain's son, a fine-looking youth, sprang aft to the mizen-brails. The mate having already let go the sheet, the sail was drawn up close to the yard. "Now, aloft to the mizen-topsail," cried the mate; "we must have every stitch of canvas off her before the wind reaches us; for, depend upon it, it is in no playful mood." The mate and Gerald sprang up the rigging, and getting hold of the bunt of the sail, quickly furled it. Pompey, the black cook, and Tim Maloney, a boy, were on deck letting go or hoisting away at the ropes as required; every other man in the ship able to move was aloft. All the after sail having been taken off the ship, Owen, as he was about to descend from the yard, cast a glance to windward. "Here it comes, sharp and strong," he sang out; "down--down, quick, all of you!" and, seizing the backstay, he glided like lightning on deck. Gerald followed his example. As soon as the mate reached the deck, he sprang to the deserted helm and gave another look in the direction from which he expected the wind to come. Already could be discerned a long line of white foam curling up above the hitherto calm sea, over the surface of which innumerable cat's-paws were playing, now sweeping across it, now vanishing, to reappear speedily in another direction. The men were in the mean time employed, under the mate's directions, in getting the ship snug. "Gerald, do you go and assist them," he said; "we haven't a moment to lose." The jib only remained set. Some of the crew had begun to grumble at having so much pulling and hauling, with apparently no object. "What's the use of furling sails in a dead calm? we shall be after having to set them again, as I hope we shall get the breeze before long," exclaimed Dan Connor. An active seaman was Dan, though he could seldom see much further than his own nose. "Nebber fear dat," cried Pompey, "we get de wind 'tiff and 'trong as you and I like de grog, Dan--de mate hab um wedder eye open as 'wide as de captain--see what coming--look out, man--what say to dat?"