"Not a brace, nor a tack, nor a sheet did we slack" on board of the gallant _Triton_ for a whole week; and then it fell calm, and we lay washing our sides up to the scuppers in the pure waters of the Atlantic. During this time everything was got to rights, and I began to find my way about every part of the ship, and to learn the names of the spars, and ropes, and sails.  Gerard very soon dared me to go aloft; of course I was nothing loath.