Edgar Allan Poe

Name: The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym — Chapter 7
Author: Edgar Allan Poe

The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym… (1838)

Summary

“The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym — Chapter 7”, published in 1838, is a work by Edgar Allan Poe. It explores elements such as Peters, sail and vessel.

Quotes from The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym… (Edgar Allan Poe)

Edgar Allan Poe, The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym… (1838)

“ As long as the sail holds, a well modelled vessel will maintain her situation, and ride every sea, as if instinct with life and reason. If the violence of the wind, however, should tear the sail into pieces (a feat which it requires a perfect hurricane to accomplish under ordinary circumstances) , there is then imminent danger. The vessel falls off from the wind, and, coming broadside to the sea, is completely at its mercy: the only resource in this case is to put her quietly before the wind, letting her scud until some other sail can be set. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Edgar Allan Poe, The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym… (1838)

“ As night drew on, the wind increased in violence, with a remarkably heavy sea. Peters now came into the forecastle with Augustus, and we resumed our deliberations.
We agreed that no opportunity could be more favourable than the present for carrying our designs into effect, as an attempt at such a moment would never be anticipated. As the brig was snugly laid-to, there would be no necessity of manoeuvring her until good weather, when, if we succeeded in our attempt, we might liberate one, or perhaps two of the men, to aid us in taking her into port. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Edgar Allan Poe, The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym… (1838)

“ When a vessel is to be laid-to, her head is brought up to the wind just so nearly as to fill the sail under which she lies when hauled flat aft, that is, when brought diagonally across the vessel. This being done, the bows point within a few degrees of the direction from which the wind issues, and the windward bow of course receives the shock of the waves. In this situation a good vessel will ride out a very heavy gale of wind without shipping a drop of water, and without any further attention being requisite on the part of the crew. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Edgar Allan Poe, The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym… (1838)

“ If the vessel which lies-to is under full sail, the manoeuvre is usually accomplished by throwing round some portion of her sails, so as to let the wind take them aback, when she becomes stationary. But we are now speaking of lying-to in a gale of wind. This is done when the wind is ahead, and too violent to admit of carrying sail without danger of capsizing; and sometimes even when the wind is fair, but the sea too heavy for the vessel to be put before it. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Edgar Allan Poe, The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym… (1838)

“ Often, too, it becomes necessary to scud a vessel, either when the blast is so exceedingly furious as to tear in pieces the sail which is employed with a view of bringing her head to the wind, or when, through the false modelling of the frame or other causes, this main object cannot be effected.
Vessels in a gale of wind are laid-to in different manners, according to their peculiar construction. Some lie-to best under a foresail, and this, I believe, is the sail most usually employed. Large square-rigged vessels have sails for the express purpose, called storm-staysails. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Edgar Allan Poe, The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym… (1838)

“ I objected to this, because I could not believe that the mate (who was a cunning fellow in all matters which did not affect his superstitious prejudices) would suffer himself to be so easily entrapped. The very fact of there being a watch on deck at all was sufficient proof that he was upon the alert,—it not being usual except in vessels where discipline is most rigidly enforced, to station a watch on deck when a vessel is lying-to in a gale of wind. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Edgar Allan Poe, The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym… (1838)

“ If a vessel be suffered to scud before the wind in a very heavy sea, much damage is usually done her by the shipping of water over her stern, and sometimes by the violent plunges she makes forward. This manoeuvre,then, is seldom resorted to in such case, unless through necessity. When the vessel is in a leaky condition she is often put before the wind even in the heaviest seas; for, when lying-to, her seams are sure to be greatly opened by her violent straining, and it is not so much the case when scudding. ”

Edgar Allan Poe

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Quotes from The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym… (Edgar Allan Poe)

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