Читать книгу Ralph Osborn, Midshipman at Annapolis. A Story of Life at the U.S. Naval Academy онлайн

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On this homeward bound cruise was shown the benefit the midshipmen had received from their previous six weeks’ work. Ralph Osborn now ran aloft boldly and went out on the highest yard-arms with perfect confidence. He could reef and furl and make all sort of knots and he felt he knew every rope aboard and where it was and what it was used for. He could heave the lead and give correct soundings, and heave the log to get the ship’s speed. The good-natured enlisted men took a real interest in giving the midshipmen information, and before the ship had returned to Annapolis it can be safely said that she had a very efficient ship’s company.

When the ship was under way, each morning at seven o’clock the midshipmen who had been on watch since four o’clock were required to run up the rigging to the top and from there up the topmast rigging over the topmast head, and then down to the deck. This was supposed to be good exercise for them and tended to make them nimble aloft.

On one cold, gray morning in the middle of August the Chesapeake was bowling along at a ten knot speed. The wind was fresh and the ship was driven into rough, heavy seas. The ship was under all sail to topgallantsails.