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From where I stood , the two vessels seemed nothing but spars and sails , while their narrow decks , far below , slanting over by the force of the wind aloft , appeared hardly capable of supporting the great fabrics raised upon them . I stood on the forecastle , looking at the seas , which were rolling high , as far as the eye could reach , their tops white with foam , and the body of them of a deep indigo blue , reflecting the bright rays of the sun . " In the meantime , the wet and cold had brought my face into such a state that I could neither eat nor sleep ; and though I stood it out all night , yet , when it became light , I was in such a state , that all hands told me I must go below , and lie-by for a day or two , or I should be laid up for a long time , and perhaps have the lock-jaw . We sailed down this magnificent bay with a light wind , the tide , which was running out , carrying us at the rate of four or five knots . I stood perfectly still , and my heart beat quick . By the loss of the sailmaker , our watch was reduced to five , of whom two were boys , who never steered but in fine weather , so that the other two and myself had to stand at the wheel four hours apiece out of every twenty-four ; and the other watch had only four helmsmen . One at a time , ( for it was a long piece of work and required many hands , ) we furled the courses , mizen topsail , and fore-topmast staysail , and close-reefed the fore and main topsails , and hove the ship to under the fore , with the main hauled up by the clewlines and buntlines , and ready to be sheeted home , if we found it necessary to make sail to get to windward of an ice island . A few stifled rats were found ; and what bugs , cockroaches , fleas , and other vermin , there might have been on board , must have unrove their life-lines before the hatches were opened .