A crash, a loud shriek, and a babel of shouts showed that a disaster had occurred.  One of the largest guns was being hoisted over the side by a combination of tackle between the lower fore and main yards.  Just as it swung outboard the sling on the chase parted, and the huge mass of metal fell into a barge alongside, crushing two negroes and tearing through the bottom of the shore-craft.  Instantly all was confusion; the master gunner was cursing at the loss of his piece of ordnance, his voice raised high above the shouts of the terrified negroes, the bos’n receiving the brunt of his attack.  "Dost want me to teach thee thy trade, landlubber?  Is it not time that ye learned to tie aught but a slippery hitch?"