If they were upset in a heavy sea, the crews could save themselves by clinging to the rope, buoyed up by the floats.
The Young America stood up towards the wreck, intending to pass under her stern as near as it was prudent to lay, the head of the dismasted ship being to the north-west.
"Boatswain, pipe all hands to muster," said the captain, prompted by Mr.
Lowington, as the ship approached the wreck.
"All hands on deck, ahoy!" shouted the boatswain, piping the call.
The first lieutenant took the trumpet from the officer of the deck, and the crew, all of whom were on deck when the call was sounded, sprang to their muster stations.
"All hands, take in courses," said the executive officer; and those who were stationed at the tacks and sheets, clew-garnets and buntlines, prepared to do their duty when the boatswain piped the call.
"Man the fore and main clew-garnets and buntlines!" shouted the first lieutenant.

"Stand by tacks and sheets!" The fore and main sail, being the lowest square sails, are called the courses.

There is no corresponding sail on the mizzenmast.

The ropes by which the lower corners of these sails are hauled up for furling are the clew-garnets--the same that are designated clewlines on the topsails.
The tacks and sheets are the ropes by which the courses are hauled down, and kept in place, the tack being on the windward side, and the sheet on the leeward.
"All ready, sir," reported the lieutenants forward.
"Haul taut! Let go tacks and sheets! Haul up!" These orders being promptly obeyed, the courses were hauled up, and the ship was under topsails and top-gallant sails, jib, flying-jib, and spanker.
"Ship, ahoy!" shouted the first lieutenant through his trumpet, as the Young America rolled slowly along under the stern of the wreck.
"Ship, ahoy!" replied a voice from the deck of the wreck.

"We are in a sinking condition! Will you take us off ?" "Ay, ay!" cried Haven, with right good will.
"You will heave to the ship, Mr.Haven," said the captain, when she had passed a short distance beyond the wreck.
"Man the jib and flying-jib halyards and down-hauls," said the first lieutenant.
"All ready forward, sir," replied the second lieutenant, on the forecastle.
"Stand by the maintop bowline! Cast off! Man the main braces!" "Let go the jib and flying-jib halyards! Haul down!" And the jibs were taken in.
"Slack off the lee braces! Haul on the weather braces!" The main-topsail and top-gallant were thus thrown aback, and the Young America was hove to, in order to enable her people to perform their humane mission.
"Stand by to lower the barge and gig!" continued Haven.
"Mr.Haven, you will board the wreck in the gig," said Captain Gordon.
"Yes, sir," replied he, touching his cap, and handing the trumpet to the second lieutenant.
"Mr.Kendall, you will take charge of the barge," added the captain.
"The barge, sir," answered Kendall, passing the trumpet to Goodwin, the third lieutenant, who, during the absence of his superiors, was to discharge the duty of the executive officer.
The boats were cleared away, and every preparation made for lowering them into the water.