"Tom Sawyer"
by Mark Twain

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     They shoved off, presently, Tom in command, Huck at the after oar and Joe at the forward. Tom stood amidships, gloomy-browed, and with folded arms, and gave his orders in a low, stern whisper:

     "Luff, and bring her to the wind!"

     "Aye-aye, sir!"

     "Steady, steady-y-y-y!"

     "Steady it is, sir!"

     "Let her go off a point!"

     "Point it is, sir!"

 

     As the boys steadily and monotonously drove the raft toward mid-stream it was no doubt understood that these orders were given only for "style," and were not intended to mean anything in particular.

     "What sail's she carrying?"

     "Courses, tops'ls, and flying-jib, sir."

     "Send the r'yals up! Lay out aloft, there, half a dozen of ye--foretopmaststuns'l! Lively, now!"

     "Aye-aye, sir!"

     "Shake out that maintogalans'l! Sheets and braces! now my hearties!"

 
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