His warning cry is listened to with breathless attention when the songs of a siren would be unheard.

Cast after cast was made as the ship drove on, and the answer to Cuffe's questions was uniformly, "No bottom, sir, with fifteen fathoms out"; but just at this instant arose the regular song from the weather main-chains of "by the mark seven!" This came so suddenly on the captain's ear that he sprang upon the taffrail, where he could command a full view of all he wanted to see, and then he called out in a stentorian voice: "Heave again, sir!--be brisk, my lad!--be brisk!" "Be-e-e-ther-r-r-dee-e-e-eep six!" followed almost as soon as the Captain's voice had ceased.
"Ready-about," shouted Cuffe.

"See all clear, gentlemen.

Move lively, men; more lively." "And-a-a-eh half-ef-four--" "Stand by!--What the devil are you at, sir, on that forecastle ?--Are you ready, forward ?" "All ready, sir--" "Down with your helm--hard down at once--" "Be-e-e-ther-r-r-dee-e-e-p nine--" "Meet her!--up with your helm.

Haul down your sheets forward--brail the spanker--let go all the bowlines aft.