to
The Scilly Islands.
i.
“At any other time of the year and for a shorter cruise, I should be delighted to join you. But as I prefer dying a dry death, I must decline accompanying you all the way to the Scilly Islands in a little pleasure boat of thirteen tons, just at the time of the autumnal equinox. You may meet with a gale1 that will blow you out of the water. You are running a risk, in my opinion, of the most senseless kind — and, if I thought my advice had any weight with you, I should say most earnestly, be warned in time, and give up the trip.”—Extract from the letter of A Prudent2 Friend.
“If I were only a single man, there is nothing I should like better than to join you. But I have a wife and family, and I can’t reconcile it to my conscience to risk being drowned.”—Report from the Personal Statement of a Married Friend.
“Don’t come back bottom upwards3.”—Final Valedictory4 Blessing5 of a Facetious6 Friend.
My messmate and I, having absolutely made up our minds to go to the Scilly Islands, received the expressions of opinion quoted above, with the supreme7 composure which distinguishes all resolute8 men. In other words, we held fast to our original determination, engaged the boat and the crew, and put to sea on our appointed day, in the teeth of the wind and of our friends’ objections. But before I float the present narrative10 into blue water, I have certain indispensable formalities to accomplish which will keep me and my readers for a little while yet on dry land. First of all, let me introduce our boat, our crew, and ourselves.
Our boat is named the Tomtit. She is cutter-rigged. Her utmost length from stem to stern is thirty-six feet, and her greatest breadth on deck is ten feet. As her size does not admit of bulwarks11, her deck, between the cabin-hatch and the stern, dips into a kind of well, with seats round three sides of it, which we call the Cockpit. Here we can stand up in rough weather without any danger of being rolled overboard; elsewhere, the sides of the vessel12 do not rise more than a few inches above the deck. The cabin of the Tomtit is twelve feet long, eight feet wide, and five feet six inches high. It has roomy lockers13, and a snug14 little fireplace, and it leads into two recesses15 forward, which make capital storerooms for water, coals, firewood, and so forth16. When I have added that the Tomtit has a bright red bottom, continued, as to colour, up her sides to a little above the watermark; and when I have further stated that she is a fast sailer, and that she proved herself on our cruise to be a capital little seaboat, I have said all that is needful at present on the subject of our yacht, and may get on to our crew and ourselves.
Our crew is composed of three brothers: Sam Dobbs, Dick Dobbs, and Bob Dobbs; all active seamen17, and as worthy18 and hearty19 fellows as any man in the world could wish to sail with. My friend’s name is Mr. Migott, and mine is Mr. Jollins. Thus, we are five on board altogether. As for our characters, I shall leave them to come out as they may in the course of this narrative. I am going to tell things plainly just as they happened. Smart writing, comic colouring, and graphic20 description, are departments of authorship at which I snap my fingers in contempt.
The port we sailed from was a famous watering-place on the western coast, called Mangerton-on-the-Mud; and our intention, as intimated at the beginning of these pages, was to go even farther than the Land’s End, and to reach those last morsels21 of English ground called the Scilly Islands. But if the reader thinks he is now to get afloat at once, he is lamentably22 mistaken. One very important and interesting part of our voyage was entirely23 comprised in the preparations that we made for it. To this portion of the subject, therefore, I shall wholly devote myself in the first instance. On paper, or off it, neither Mr. Migott nor myself are men to be hurried.
We left London with nothing but our clothes, our wrappers, some tobacco, some French novels, and some Egyptian cigars. Everything that was to be bought for the voyage was to be procured24 at Bristol. Everything that could be extracted from private benevolence25, was to be taken in unlimited26 quantities from hospitable27 friends living more or less in the neighbourhood of our place of embarkation28. At Bristol we plunged29 over head and ears in naval30 business immediately. After ordering a ham, and a tongue, marmalade, lemons, anchovy31 paste, and general groceries, we set forth to the quay32 to equip ourselves and our vessel.
We began with charts, sailing directions, and a compass; we got on to a hammock apiece and a flag; and we rose to a nautical33 climax34 by buying tarpaulin-coats, leggings, and sou’-westers, at a sailors’ public-house. With these sea-stores, and with a noble loaf of home-made bread (the offering of private benevolence) we left Bristol to scour36 the friendly country beyond, in search of further contributions to the larder37 of the Tomtit.
The first scene of our ravages38 was a large country-house, surrounded by the most charming grounds. From the moment when we and our multifarious packages poured tumultuous into the hall, to the moment when we and the said packages poured out of it again into a carriage and a cart, I have no recollection, excepting meal-times and bedtime, of having been still for an instant. Escorted everywhere by two handsome, high-spirited boys, in a wild state of excitement about our voyage, we ranged the house from top to bottom, and laid hands on everything portable and eatable that we wanted in it. The inexhaustible hospitality of our hostess was proof against all the inroads that we could make on it. The priceless gift of packing perishable39 commodities securely in small spaces, possessed40 by a lady living in the house and placed perpetually at our disposal, encouraged our propensities41 for unlimited accumulation. We ravaged42 the kitchen garden and the fruit-garden; we rushed into the awful presence of the cook (with our ham and tongue from Bristol as an excuse) and ranged predatory over the lower regions. We scaled back-staircases, and tramped along remote corridors, and burst into secluded43 lumber-rooms, with accompaniment of shouting from the boys, and of operatic humming from Mr. Migott and myself, who happen, among other social accomplishments44, to be both of us musical in a desultory45 way. We turned out, in these same lumber-rooms, plans of estates from their neat tin cases, and put in lemons and loaf-sugar instead. Mr. Migott pounced46 upon a stray telescope, and strapped47 it over my shoulders forthwith. The two boys found two japanned boxes, with the epaulettes and shako of an exmilitary member of the family inside, which articles of martial48 equipment (though these are war-times, and nobody is meritorious49 or respectable now who does not wear a uniform) I, with my own irreverent hands, shook out on the floor; and straightway conveyed the empty cases down-stairs to be profaned50 by tea, sugar, Harvey’s sauce, pickles51, pepper, and other products of the arts of peace. In a word, and not to dwell too long on the purely52 piratical part of our preparations for the voyage, we doubled the number of our packages at this hospitable country house, before we left it for Mangerton-on-the-Mud, and the dangers of the sea that lay beyond.
At Mangerton we made a second piratical swoop53 upon another long-suffering friend, the resident doctor. We let this gentleman off, however, very easily, only lightening him of a lanthorn, and two milk-cans to hold our freshwater. We felt strongly inclined to take his warmest cape54 away from him also; but Mr. Migott leaned towards the side of mercy, and Mr. Jollins was, as usual, only too ready to sacrifice himself on the altar of friendship — so the doctor kept his cape, after all.
Not so fortunate was our next victim, Mr. Purler, the Port Admiral of Mangerton-on-the-Mud, and the convivial55 host of the Metropolitan56 Inn. Wisely entering his house empty-handed, we left it with sheets, blankets, mattresses57, pillows, table-cloths, napkins, knives, forks, spoons, crockery, a frying-pan, a gridiron, and a saucepan. When to these articles of domestic use were added the parcels we had brought from Bristol, the packages we had collected at the country-house, the doctor’s milk-cans, the personal baggage of the two enterprising voyagers, additions to the eating and drinking department in the shape of a cold curry58 in a jar, a piece of spiced beef, a side of bacon, and a liberal supply of wine, spirits, and beer — nobody can be surprised to hear that we found some difficulty in making only one cart-load of our whole collection of stores. The packing process was, in fact, not accomplished59 till after dark. The tide was then flowing; we were to sail the next morning; and it was necessary to get everything put on board that night, while there was water enough for the Tomtit to be moored60 close to the jetty.
This jetty, it must be acknowledged, was nothing but a narrow stone causeway, sloping down from the land into the sea. Our cart, loaded with breakable things, was drawn61 up at the high end of the jetty; the Tomtit waiting to receive the contents of the cart at the low end, in the water. We had no moon, no stars, no lamp of any kind on shore; and the one small lanthorn on board the vessel just showed how dark it was, and did nothing more. Imagine the doctor, and the doctor’s friend, and the doctor’s two dogs, and Mr. Migott and Mr. Jollins, all huddled63 together in a fussy64 state of expectation, midway on the jetty, seeing nothing, doing nothing, and being very much in the way — and then wonder, as we wondered, at the marvellous dexterity65 of our three valiant66 sailors, who succeeded in transporting piecemeal67 the crockery, cookery, and general contents of the cart into the vessel, on that pitchy night, without breaking, dropping, or forgetting anything. When I hear of professional conjurors performing remarkable68 feats70, I think of the brothers Dobbs, and the loading of the Tomtit in the darkness; and I ask myself if any landsman’s mechanical legerdemain71 can be more extraordinary than the natural neat-handedness of a sailor?
The next morning the sky was black, the wind was blowing hard against us, and the waves were showing their white frills angrily in the offing. A double row of spectators had assembled at the jetty, to see us beat out of the bay. If they had come to see us hanged, their grim faces could not have expressed greater commiseration72. Our only cheerful farewell came from the doctor and his friend and the two dogs. The remainder of the spectators evidently felt that they were having a last long stare at us, and that it would be indecent and unfeeling, under the circumstances, to look happy. Produce me a respectable inhabitant of an English country town, and I will match him, in the matter of stolid73 and silent staring, against any other man, civilized74 or savage75, over the whole surface of the globe.
If we had felt any doubts of the sea-going qualities of the Tomtit, they would have been solved when we “went about,” for the first time, after leaving the jetty. A livelier, stiffer, and drier little vessel of her size never was built. She jumped over the waves, as if the sea was a great play-ground, and the game for the morning, Leap–Frog. Though the wind was so high that we were obliged to lower our foresail, and to double-reef the mainsail, the only water we got on board was the spray that was blown over us from the tops of the waves. In the state of the weather, getting down Channel was out of the question. We were obliged to be contented76, on this first day of our voyage, with running across to the Welsh coast, and there sheltering ourselves — amid a perfect fleet of outward-bound merchantmen driven back by the wind — in a snug roadstead, for the afternoon and the night.
This delay, which might have been disagreeable enough later in our voyage, gave us just the time we wanted for setting things to rights on board.
Our little twelve-foot cabin, it must be remembered, was bed-room, sitting-room77, dining-room, storeroom, and kitchen, all in one. Everything we wanted for sleeping, reading, eating, and drinking, had to be arranged in its proper place. The butter and candles, the soap and cheese, the salt and sugar, the bread and onions, the oil-bottle and the brandy-bottle, for example, had to be put in places where the motion of the vessel could not roll them together, and where, also, we could any of us find them at a moment’s notice. Other things, not of the eatable sort, we gave up all idea of separating. Mr. Migott and I mingled78 our stock of shirts as we mingled our sympathies, our fortunes, and our flowing punch-bowl after dinner. We both of us have our faults; but incapability79 of adapting ourselves cheerfully to circumstances is not among them. Mr. Migott, especially, is one of those rare men who could dine politely off blubber in the company of Esquimaux, and discover the latent social advantages of his position if he was lost in the darkness of the North Pole.
After the arrangement of goods and chattels80, came dinner (the curry warmed up with a second course of fried onions)— then the slinging81 of our hammocks by the neat hands of the Brothers Dobbs — and then the practice of how to get into the hammocks, by Messrs. Migott and Jollins. No landsman who has not tried the experiment can form the faintest notion of the luxury of the sailor’s swinging bed, or of the extraordinary difficulty of getting into it for the first time. The preliminary action is to stand with your back against the middle of your hammock, and to hold by the edge of the canvas on either side. You then duck your head down, throw your heels up, turn round on your back, and let go with your hands, all at the same moment. If you succeed in doing this, you are in the most luxurious82 bed that the ingenuity83 of man has ever invented. If you fail, you measure your length on the floor. So much for hammocks.
After learning how to get into bed, the writer of the present narrative tried his hand at the composition of whisky punch, and succeeded in imparting satisfaction to his intemperate84 fellow-creatures. When the punch and the pipes accompanying it had come to an end, a pilot-boat anchored alongside of us for the night. Once embarked85 on our own element, we old sea-dogs are, after all, a polite race of men. We asked the pilot where he had come from — and he asked us. We asked the pilot where he was bound to, tomorrow morning — and he asked us. We asked the pilot whether he would like a drop of rum — and the pilot, to encourage us, said Yes. After that, there was a little pause; and then the pilot asked us, whether we would come on board his boat — and we, to encourage the pilot, said Yes, and did go, and came back, and asked the pilot whether he would come on board our boat — and he said Yes, and did come on board, and drank another drop of rum. Thus in the practice of the social virtues86 did we while away the hours — six jolly tars62 in a twelve-foot cabin — till it was past eleven o’clock, and time, as we say at sea, to tumble in, or tumble out, as the case may be, when a jolly tar35 wants practice in the art of getting into his hammock.
So began and ended our first day afloat.
ii.
The wind blew itself out in the night. As the morning got on, it fell almost to a calm; and the merchantmen about us began weighing anchor, to drop down Channel with the tide. The Tomtit, it is unnecessary to say, scorned to be left behind, and hoisted88 her sails with the best of them. Favoured by the lightness of the wind, we sailed past every vessel proceeding89 in our direction. Barques, brigs, and schooners90, French luggers and Dutch galliots, we showed our stern to all of them; and when the weather cleared, and the breeze freshened towards the afternoon, the little Tomtit was heading the whole fleet.
In the evening we brought up close to the high coast of Somersetshire, to wait for the tide. Weighed again, at ten at night, and sailed for Ilfracombe. Got becalmed towards morning, but managed to reach our port at ten, with the help of the sweeps, or long oars91. Went ashore92 for more bread, beer, and fresh water; feeling so nautical by this time, that the earth was difficult to walk upon; and all the people we had dealings with presented themselves to us in the guise93 of unmitigated land-sharks. O, my dear eyes! what a relief it was to Mr. Migott and myself to find ourselves in our floating castle, boxing the compass, dancing the hornpipe, and splicing94 the mainbrace freely in our ocean-home.
About noon we sailed for Clovelly. Our smooth passage across the magnificent Bay of Bideford is the recollection of our happy voyage which I find myself looking back on most admiringly while I now write.
No cloud was in the sky. Far away, on the left, sloped inward the winding95 shore; so clear, so fresh, so divinely tender in its blue and purple hues96, that it was the most inexhaustible of luxuries only to look at it. Over the watery97 horizon, to the right, the autumn sun hung grandly, with the fire-path below heaving on a sea of lustrous98 blue. Flocks of wild birds at rest, floated chirping99 on the water all around. The fragrant100 steady breeze was just enough to fill our sails. On and on we went, with the bubbling sea-song at our bows to soothe101 us; on and on, till the blue lustre102 of the ocean grew darker, till the sun sank redly towards the far water-line, till the sacred evening stillness crept over the sweet air, and hushed it with a foretaste of the coming night.
What sight of mystery and enchantment103 rises before us now? Steep, solemn cliffs, bare in some places — where the dark-red rock has been rent away, and the winding chasms104 open grimly to the view — but clothed for the most part with trees, which soften105 their summits into the sky, and sweep all down them, in glorious masses of wood, to the very water’s edge. Climbing from the beach, up the precipitous face of the cliff, a little fishing village coyly shows itself. The small white cottages rise one above another; now perching on a bit of rock, now peeping out of a clump107 of trees: sometimes two or three together; sometimes one standing108 alone; here, placed sideways to the sea, there, fronting it — but rising always one over the other, as if, instead of being founded on the earth, they were hung from the trees on the top of the cliff. Over all this lovely scene the evening shadows are stealing. The last rays of the sun just tinge109 the quiet water, and touch the white walls of the cottages. From out at sea comes the sound of a horn — blown from the nearest fishing-vessel, as a signal to the rest to follow her to shore. From the land, the voices of children at play, and the still fall of the small waves on the beach, are the only audible sounds. This is Clovelly. If we had travelled a thousand miles to see it, we should have said that our journey had not been taken in vain.
On getting to shore, we found the one street of Clovelly nothing but a succession of irregular steps, from the beginning at the beach, to the end half way up the cliffs. It was like climbing to the top of an old castle, instead of walking through a village. When we reached the summit of the cliff, the hour was too advanced to hope for seeing much of the country. We strayed away, however, to look for the church, and found ourselves, at twilight110, near some ghastly deserted111 out-houses, approached by a half-ruinous gateway112, and a damp dark avenue of trees. The church was near, but shut off from us by ivy-grown walls. No living creature appeared; not even a dog barked at us. We were surrounded by silence, solitude113, darkness, and desolation; and it struck us both forcibly, that the best thing we could do was to give up the church, and get back to humanity with all convenient speed.
The descent of the High Street of Clovelly, at night, turned out to be a matter of more difficulty than we had anticipated. There was no such thing as a lamp in the whole village; and we had to grope our way in the darkness down steps of irregular sizes and heights, paved with slippery pebbles114, and ornamented115 with nothing in the shape of a bannister, even at the most dangerous places. Half-way down, my friend and I had an argument in the dark — standing with our noses against a wall, and with nothing visible on either side — as to which way we should turn next. I guessed to the left, and he guessed to the right; and I, being the more obstinate116 of the two, we ended in following my route, and at last stumbled our way down to the pier117. Looking at the place the next morning, we found that the steps to the right led through a bit of cottage-garden to a snug little precipice118, over which inquisitive119 tourists might fall quietly, without let or hindrance120. Talk of the perils121 of the deep! what are they in comparison with the perils of the shore?
The adventures of the night were not exhausted123, so far as I was concerned, even when we got back to our vessel.
I have already informed the reader that the cabin of the Tomtit was twelve feet long by eight feet wide — a snug apartment, but scarcely large enough, as it struck me, for five men to sleep in comfortably. Nevertheless, the experiment was to be tried in Clovelly harbour. I bargained, at the outset, for one thing — that the cabin hatch should be kept raised at least a foot all night. This ventilatory condition being complied with, I tumbled into my hammock; Mr. Migott rolled into his; and Sam Dobbs, Dick Dobbs, and Bob Dobbs cast themselves down promiscuously124 on the floor and the lockers under us. Out went the lights; and off went my friend and the Brothers Dobbs into the most intolerable concert of snoring that it is possible to imagine.
No alternative was left for my unfortunate self but to lie awake listening, and studying the character of the snore in each of the four sleeping individuals. The snore of Mr. Migott I found to be superior to the rest in point of amiability125, softness, and regularity126 — it was a kind of oily, long-sustained purr, amusing and not unmusical for the first five minutes. Next in point of merit to Mr. Migott, came Bob Dobbs. His note was several octaves lower than my friend’s, and his tone was a grunt127 — but I will do him justice; I will not scruple128 to admit that the sounds he produced were regular as clockwork. Very inferior was the performance of Sam Dobbs, who, as owner of the boat, ought, I think, to have set a good example. If an idle carpenter planed a board very quickly at one time, and very slowly at another, and if he groaned129 at intervals130 over his work, he would produce the best imitation of Sam Dobbs’s style of snoring that I can think of. Last, and worst of all, came Dick Dobbs, who was afflicted131 with a cold, and whose snore consisted of a succession of loud chokes, gasps132, and puffs133, all contending together, as it appeared to me, which should suffocate134 him soonest. There I lay, wide awake, suffering under the awful nose-chorus which I have attempted to describe, for nearly an hour. It was a dark night: there was no wind, and very little air. Horrible doubts about the sufficiency of our ventilation began to beset135 me. Reminiscences of early reading on the subject of the Black Hole at Calcutta came back vividly136 to my memory. I thought of the twelve feet by eight, in which we were all huddled together — terror and indignation overpowered me — and I roared for a light, before the cabin of the Tomtit became too mephitic for flame of any kind to exist in it. Uprose they then my Merry Merry Men, bewildered and grumbling137, to grope for the match-box. It was found, the lantern was lit, the face of Mr. Migott appeared serenely138 over the side of his hammock, and the voice of Mr. Migott sweetly and sleepily inquired what was the matter?
“Matter! The Black Hole at Calcutta is the matter. Poisonous, gaseous139 exhalation is the matter! Outrageous140, ungentlemanly snoring is the matter! give me my bedding, and my drop of brandy, and my pipe, and let me go on deck. Let me be a Chaldean shepherd, and contemplate141 the stars. Let me be the careful watch who patrols the deck, and guards the ship from foes142 and wreck143. Let me be anything but the companion of men who snore like the famous Furies in the old Greek play.” While I am venting144 my indignation, and collecting my bedding, the smiling and sleepy face of Mr. Migott disappears slowly from the side of the hammock — and before I am on deck, I hear the oily purr once more, just as amiable145, soft, and regular as ever.
What a relief it was to have the sky to look up at, the fresh night air to breathe, the quiet murmur146 of the sea to listen to! I rolled myself up in my blankets; and, for aught I know to the contrary, was soon snoring on deck as industriously147 as my companions were snoring below.
The first sounds that woke me in the morning were produced by the tongues of the natives of Clovelly, assembled on the pier, staring down on me in my nest of blankets, and shouting to each other incessantly149. I assumed that they were making fun of the interesting stranger stretched in repose150 on the deck of the Tomtit; but I could not understand one word of the Devonshire language in which they spoke151. Whatever they said of me, I forgive them, however, in consideration of their cream and fresh herrings. Our breakfast on the cabin-hatch in Clovelly harbour, after a dip in the sea, is a remembrance of gustatory bliss152 which I gratefully cherish. When we had reduced the herrings to skeletons, and the cream-pot to a whited sepulchre of emptiness, we slipped from our moorings, and sailed away from the lovely little village with sincere regret. By noon we were off Hartland Point.
We had now arrived at the important part of our voyage — the part at which it was necessary to decide, once for all, on our future destination. Mr. Migott and I took counsel together solemnly, unrolled the charts, and then astonished our trusty crew by announcing that the end of the voyage was to be the Scilly Islands. Up to this time the Brothers Dobbs had been inclined to laugh at the notion of getting so far in so small a boat. But they began to look grave now, and to hint at cautious objections. The weather was certainly beautiful; but then the wind was dead against us. Our little vessel was stiff and sturdy enough for any service, but nobody on board knew the strange waters into which we were going — and, as for the charts, could any one of us study them with a proper knowledge of the science of navigation? Would it not be better to take a little cruise to Lundy Island, away there on the starboard bow? And another little cruise about the Welsh coast, where the Dobbses had been before? To these cautious questions, we replied by rash and peremptory153 negatives; and the Brothers, thereupon, abandoned their view of the case, and accepted ours with great resignation.
For the Scilly Islands, therefore, we now shaped our course, alternately standing out to sea, and running in for the land, so as to get down ultimately to the Land’s End, against the wind, in a series of long zig-zags, now in a westerly and now in an easterly direction. Our first tack154 from Hartland Point was a sail of six hours out to sea. At sunset, the little Tomtit had lost sight of land for the first time since she was launched, and was rising and falling gently on the long swells155 of the Atlantic. It was a deliciously calm, clear evening, with every promise of the fine weather lasting156. The spirits of the Brothers Dobbs, when they found themselves at last in the blue water, rose amazingly.
“Only give us decent weather, sir,” said Bob Dobbs, cheerfully smacking158 the tiller of the Tomtit; “and we’ll find our way to Scilly somehow, in spite of the wind.”
How we found our way, remains159 to be seen.
iii.
We were now fairly at sea, keeping a regular watch on deck at night, and never running nearer the Cornish coast than was necessary to enable us to compare the great headlands with the marks on our chart. Under present circumstances, no more than three of us could sleep in the cabin at one time — the combined powers of the snoring party were thus weakened, and the ventilation below could be preserved in a satisfactory state. Instead of chronicling our slow zig-zag progress to the Land’s End — which is unlikely to interest anybody not familiar with Cornish names and nautical phrases — I will try to describe the manner in which we passed the day on board the Tomtit, now that we were away from land events and amusements. If there was to be any such thing as an alloy161 of dulness in our cruise, this was assuredly the part of it in which Time and the Hour were likely to run slowest through the day.
In the first place, let me record with just pride, that we have solved the difficult problem of a pure republic in our modest little craft. No man in particular among us is master — no man in particular is servant. The man who can do at the right time, and in the best way, the thing that is most wanted, is always the hero of the situation among us. When Dick Dobbs is frying the onions for dinner, he is the person most respected in the ship, and Mr. Migott and myself are his faithful and expectant subjects. When grog is to be made, or sauces are to be prepared, Mr. Jollins becomes in his turn the monarch162 of all he surveys. When musical entertainments are in progress, Mr. Migott is vocal163 king, and sole conductor of band and chorus. When nautical talk and sea-stories rule the hour, Bob Dobbs, who has voyaged in various merchantmen all over the world, and is every inch of him a thorough sailor, becomes the best man of the company. When any affairs connected with the internal management of the vessel are under consideration, Sam Dobbs is Chairman of the Committee in the cockpit. So we sail along; and such is the perfect constitution of society at which we mariners164 of England have been able to arrive.
Our freedom extends to the smallest details. We have no stated hours, and we are well a-head of all rules and regulations. We have no breakfast hour, no dinner hour, no time for rising or for going to bed. We have no particular eatables at particular meals. We don’t know the day of the month, or the day of the week; and never look at our watches, except when we wind them up. Our voice is frequently the voice of the sluggard165; but we never complain, because nobody ever wakes us too soon, or thinks of interfering166 with our slumbering167 again. We wear each other’s coats, smoke each other’s pipes, poach on each other’s victuals168. We are a happy, dawdling169, undisciplined, slovenly170 lot. We have no principles, no respectability, no business, no stake in the country, no knowledge of Mrs. Grundy. We are a parcel of Lotos–Eaters; and we know nothing, except that we are poking171 our way along anyhow to the Scilly Islands in the Tomtit.
We rise when we have had sleep enough — any time you like between seven and ten. If I happen to be on deck first, I begin by hearing the news of the weather and the wind, from Sam, Dick, or Bob at the helm. Soon the face of Mr. Migott, rosy172 with recent snoring, rises from the cabin, and his body follows it slowly, clad in the blue Jersey173 frock which he persists in wearing night and day — in the heat of noon as in the cool of evening. He cannot be prevailed upon to give any reason for his violent attachment174 to this garment — only wagging his head and smiling mysteriously when we ask why, sleeping or waking, he never parts with it. Well, being up, the next thing is to make the toilette. We keep our fresh water, for minor175 ablutions, in an old wine cask from Bristol. The colour of the liquid is a tawny176 yellow: it is, in fact, weak sherry and water. For the major ablutions, we have the ship’s bucket and the sea, and a good stock of rough towels to finish with. The next thing is breakfast on deck. When we can catch fish (which is very seldom, though we are well provided with lines and bait) we fall upon the spoil immediately. At other times we range through our sea stores, eating anything we like, cooked anyhow we like. After breakfast we have two words to say to our box of peaches, nectarines, and grapes, from the hospitable country-house. Then the bedding is brought up to air; the deck is cleaned; the breakfast things are taken away; the pipes, cigars, and French novels are produced from the cabin; Mr. Migott coils himself up in a corner of the cockpit, and I perch106 upon the taffrail; and the studies of the morning begin. They end invariably in small-talk, beer, and sleep. So the time slips away cosily177 till it is necessary to think about dinner.
Now, all is activity on board the Tomtit. Except the man at the helm, every one is occupied with preparations for the banquet of the day. The potatoes, onions, and celery, form one department; the fire and solid cookery another; the washing of plates and dishes, knives and forks, a third; the laying of the cloth on deck a fourth; the concoction178 of sauces and production of bottles from the cellar a fifth. No man has any particular department assigned to him: the most active republican of the community, for the time being, plunges179 into the most active work, and the others follow as they please.
The exercise we get is principally at this period of the day, and consists in incessant148 dropping down from the deck to the cabin, and incessant scrambling180 up from the cabin to the deck. The dinner is a long business; but what do we care for that? We have no appointments to keep, no visitors to interrupt us, and nothing in the world to do but to tickle181 our palates, wet our whistles, and amuse ourselves in any way we please. Dinner at last over, it is superfluous182 to say, that the pipes become visible again, and that the taking of forty winks183 is only a prohibited operation on the part of the man at the helm.
As for tea-time, it is entirely regulated by the wants and wakefulness of Mr. Migott, who, since the death of Dr. Johnson, is the most desperate drinker of tea in all England. When the cups and saucers are cleared away, a conversazione is held in the cockpit. Sam Dobbs is the best listener of the company; Dick Dobbs, who has been a yachtsman, is the jester; Bob Dobbs, the merchant sailor, is the teller184 of adventures; and my friend and I keep the ball going smartly in all sorts of ways, till it gets dark, and a great drought falls upon the members of the conversazione. Then, if the mermaids185 are anywhere near us, they may smell the fragrant fumes186 which tell of sacrifice to Bacchus, and may hear, shortly afterwards, the muse160 of song invoked187 by cheerful topers. Thus the dark hours roll on jovial188 till the soft influences of sleep descend189 upon the tuneful choir190, and the cabin receives its lodgers191 for the night.
This is the general rule of life on board the Tomtit. Exceptional incidents of all kinds — saving sea-sickness, to which nobody on board is liable — are never wanting to vary existence pleasantly from day to day. Sometimes Mr. Migott gets on from taking a nap to having a dream, and records the fact by a screech192 of terror, which rings through the vessel and wakes the sleeper193 himself, who always asks, “What’s that, eh?”— never believes that the screech has not come from somebody else — never knows what he has been dreaming of — and never fails to go to sleep again before the rest of the ship’s company have half done expostulating with him.
Sometimes a little interesting indigestion appears among us, by way of change. Dick Dobbs, for example (who is as bilious194 as an Indian nabob), is seen to turn yellow at the helm, and to steer195 with a glazed196 eye; is asked what is the matter; replies that he has “the boil terrible bad on his stomach;” is instantly treated by Jollins (M.D.) as follows:— Two teaspoonfuls of essence of ginger197, two dessert-spoonfuls of brown brandy, two table spoonfuls of strong tea. Pour down patient’s throat very hot, and smack157 his back smartly to promote the operation of the draught198. What follows? The cure of Dick. How simple is medicine, when reduced to its first principles!
Another source of amusement is provided by the ships we meet with.
Whenever we get near enough, we hail the largest merchantmen in the most peremptory manner, as coolly as if we had three decks under us and an admiral on board. The large ships, for the most part paralysed by our audacity199, reply meekly200. Sometimes we meet with a foreigner, and get answered by inarticulate yelling or disrespectful grins. But this is a rare case; the general rule is, that we maintain our dignity unimpaired all down the Channel. Then, again, when no ships are near, there is the constant excitement of consulting our charts and wondering where we are. Every man of us has a different theory on this subject every time he looks at the chart; but no man rudely thrusts his theory on another, or aspires201 to govern the ideas of the rest in virtue87 of his superior obstinacy202 in backing his own opinion. Did I not assert a little while since that we were a pure republic? And is not this another and a striking proof of it?
In such pursuits and diversions as I have endeavoured to describe, the time passes quickly, happily, and adventurously203, until we ultimately succeed, at four in the morning on the sixth day of our cruise, in discovering the light of the Longship’s Lighthouse, which we know to be situated204 off the Land’s End. We are now only some seven-and-twenty miles from the Scilly Islands, and the discovery of the lighthouse enables us to set our course by the compass cleverly enough. The wind which has thus far always remained against us, falls, on the afternoon of this sixth day, to a dead calm, but springs up again in another and a favourable205 quarter at eleven o’clock at night. By daybreak we are all on the watch for the Scilly Islands. Not a sign of them. The sun rises; it is a magnificent morning; the favourable breeze still holds; we have been bowling206 along before it since eleven the previous night; and ought to have sighted the islands long since. But we sight nothing: no land is visible anywhere all round the horizon.
Where are we? Have we overshot Scilly? — and is the next land we are likely to see Ushant or Finisterre? Nobody knows. The faces of the Brothers Dobbs darken; and they recall to each other how they deprecated from the first this rash venturing into unknown waters. We hail two ships piteously, to ask our way. The two ships can’t tell us. We unroll the charts, and differ in opinion over them more remarkably207 than ever. The Dobbses grimly opine that it is no use looking at charts, when we have not got a pair of parallels to measure by, and are all ignorant of the scientific parts of navigation. Mr. Migott and I manfully cheer the drooping208 spirits of the crew with Guinness’s stout209, and put a smiling face upon it. But in our innermost hearts, we think of Columbus, and feel for him.
The last resource is to post a man at the masthead (if so lofty an expression may be allowed in reference to so little a vessel as the Tomtit), to keep a look-out. Up the rigging swarms210 Dick the Bilious, in the lowest spirits — strains his eyes over the waters, and suddenly hails the gaping211 deck with a joyous212 shout. The runaway213 islands are caught at last — he sees them a-head of us — he has no objection to make to the course we are steering214 — nothing particular to say but “Crack on!”— and nothing in the world to do but slide down the rigging again. Contentment beams once more on the faces of Sam, Dick, and Bob. Mr. Migott and I say nothing; but we look at each other with a smile of triumph. We remember the injurious doubts of the crew when the charts were last unrolled — and think of Columbus again, and feel for him more than ever.
Soon the islands are visible from the deck, and by noon we have run in as near them as we dare without local guidance. They are low-lying, and picturesque215 in an artistic216 point of view; but treacherous-looking and full of peril122 to the wary217 nautical eye. Horrible jagged rocks, and sinister218 swirlings and foamings of the sea, seem to forbid the approach to them. The Tomtit is hove to — our ensign is run up half-mast high — and we fire our double-barrelled gun fiercely for a pilot.
The pilot arrives in a long, serviceable-looking boat, with a wild, handsome, dark-haired son, and a silent, solemn old man for his crew. He himself is lean, wrinkled, hungry-looking; his eyes are restless with excitement, and his tongue overwhelms us with a torrent220 of words, spoken in a strange accent, but singularly free from provincialisms and bad grammar. He informs us that we must have been set to the northward221 in the night by a current, and goes on to acquaint us with so many other things, with such a fidgety sparkling of the eyes and such a ceaseless patter of the tongue, that he fairly drives me to the fore9 part of the vessel out of his way. Smoothly222 we glide223 along, parallel with the jagged rocks and the swirling219 eddies224, till we come to a channel between two islands; and, sailing through that, make for a sandy isthmus225, where we see some houses and a little harbour. This is Hugh Town, the chief place in St. Mary’s, which is the largest island of the Scilly group. We jump ashore in high glee, feeling that we have succeeded in carrying out the purpose of our voyage in defiance226 of the prognostications of all our prudent friends. At sea or on shore, how sweet is triumph, even in the smallest things!
Bating the one fact of the wind having blown from an unfavourable quarter, unvarying good fortune had, thus far, accompanied our cruise, and our luck did not desert us when we got on shore at St. Mary’s. We went, happily for our own comfort, to the hotel kept by the master of the packet plying227 between Hugh Town and Penzance. By our landlord and his cordial wife and family we were received with such kindness and treated with such care, that we felt really and truly at home before we had been half an hour in the house. And, by way of farther familiarizing us with Scilly at first sight, who should the resident medical man turn out to be but a gentleman whom I knew. These were certainly fortunate auspices228 under which to begin our short sojourn229 in one of the remotest and wildest places in the Queen’s dominions230.
iv.
The Scilly Islands seem, at a rough glance, to form a great irregular circle, enclosing a kind of lagoon231 of sea, communicating by various channels with the main ocean all around.
The circumference232 of the largest of the group is, as we heard, not more than thirteen miles. Five of the islands are inhabited; the rest may be generally described as masses of rock, wonderfully varied233 in shape and size. Inland, in the larger islands, the earth, where it is not planted or sown, is covered with heather and with the most beautiful ferns. Potatoes used to be the main product of Scilly; but the disease has appeared lately in the island crops, and the potatoes have suffered so severely234 that when we filled our sack for the return voyage, we were obliged to allow for two-thirds of our supply proving unfit for use. The views inland are chiefly remarkable as natural panoramas235 of land and sea — the two always presenting themselves intermixed in the loveliest varieties of form and colour. On the coast, the granite236 rocks, though not notably237 high, take the most wildly and magnificently picturesque shapes. They are rent into the strangest chasms and piled up in the grandest confusion; and they look down, every here and there, on the loveliest little sandy bays, where the sea, in calm weather, is as tenderly blue and as limpid238 in its clearness as the Mediterranean239 itself. The softness and purity of the climate may be imagined, when I state that in the winter none of the freshwater pools are strongly enough frozen to bear being skated on. The balmy sea air blows over each little island as freely as it might blow over the deck of a ship.
The people have the same great merit which I had previously240 observed among their Cornish neighbours — the merit of good manners. We two strangers were so little stared at as we walked about, that it was almost like being on the Continent. The pilot who had taken us into Hugh Town harbour we found to be a fair specimen241, as regarded his excessive talkativeness and the purity of his English, of the islanders generally. The longest tellers242 of very long stories, so far as my experience goes, are to be found in Scilly. Ask the people the commonest question, and their answer generally exhausts the whole subject before you can say another word. Their anxiety, whenever we had occasion to inquire our way, to guard us from the remotest chance of missing it, and the honest pride with which they told us all about local sights and marvels243, formed a very pleasant trait in the general character. Wherever we went, we found the natural kindness and natural hospitality of the people always ready to welcome us.
Strangely enough, in this softest and healthiest of climates consumption is a prevalent disease. If I may venture on an opinion, after a very short observation of the habits of the people, I should say that distrust of fresh air and unwillingness245 to take exercise were the chief causes of consumptive maladies among the islanders. I longed to break windows in the main street of Hugh Town as I never longed to break them anywhere else. One lovely afternoon I went out for the purpose of seeing how many of the inhabitants of the place had a notion of airing their bed-rooms. I found two houses with open windows — all the rest were fast closed from top to bottom, as if a pestilence246 were abroad instead of the softest, purest sea-breeze that ever blew. Then, again, as to walking, the people ask you seriously when you inquire your way on foot, whether you are aware that the destination you want to arrive at is three miles off! As for a pedestrian excursion round the largest island — a circuit of thirteen miles — when we talked of performing that feat69 in the hearing of a respectable inhabitant, he laughed at the idea as incredulously as if we had proposed a swimming match to the Cornish coast. When people will not give themselves the first great chance of breathing healthily and freely as often as they can, who can wonder that consumption should be common among them?
In addition to our other pieces of good fortune, we were enabled to profit by a very kind invitation from the gentleman to whom the islands belong, to stay with him at his house, built on the site of an ancient abbey, and surrounded by gardens of the most exquisite247 beauty.
To the firm and benevolent248 rule of the present proprietor249 of Scilly, the islanders are indebted for the prosperity which they now enjoy. It was not the least pleasant part of a very delightful250 visit, to observe for ourselves, under our host’s guidance, all that he had done, and was doing, for the welfare and the happiness of the people committed to his charge. From what we had heard, and from what we had previously observed for ourselves, we had formed the most agreeable impressions of the social condition of the islanders; and we now found the best of these impressions more than confirmed. When the present proprietor first came among his tenantry he found them living miserably251 and ignorantly. He has succoured, reformed, and taught them; and there is now, probably, no place in England where the direr hardships of poverty are so little known as in the Scilly Islands.
I might write more particularly on this topic; but I am unwilling244 to run the risk of saying more on the subject of these good deeds than the good-doer himself would sanction. And besides, I must remember that the object of this narrative is to record a holiday-cruise, and not to enter into details on the subject of Scilly; details which have already been put into print by previous travellers. Let me only add then, that our sojourn in the islands terminated with the close of our stay in the house of our kind entertainer. It had been blowing a gale of wind for two days before our departure; and we put to sea with a doubled-reefed mainsail, and with more doubts than we liked to confess to each other, about the prospects252 of the return voyage.
However, lucky we had been hitherto, and lucky we were to continue to the end. Before we had been long at sea, the wind began to get capricious; then to diminish almost to a calm; then, towards evening, to blow again, steadily253 and strongly, from the very quarter of all others most favourable to our return voyage. “If this holds,” was the sentiment of the Brothers Dobbs, as we were making things snug for the night, “we shall be back again at Mangerton before we have had time to get half through our victuals and drink.”
The wind did hold, and more than hold: and the Tomtit flew, in consequence, as if she was going to give up the sea altogether, and take to the sky for a change. Our homeward run was the most perfect contrast to our outward voyage. No tacking254, no need to study the charts, no laggard255 luxurious dining on the cabin hatch. It was too rough for anything but picnicking in the cockpit, jammed into a corner, with our plates on our knees. I had to make the grog with one hand, and clutch at the nearest rope with the other — Mr. Migott holding the bowl while I mixed, and the man at the helm holding Mr. Migott. As for reading, it was hopeless to try it; for there was breeze enough to blow the leaves out of the book — and singing was not to be so much as thought of; for the moment you opened your mouth the wind rushed in, and snatched away the song immediately. The nearer we got to Mangerton, the faster we flew. My last recollection of the sea, dates at the ghostly time of midnight. The wind had been increasing and increasing, since sunset, till it contemptuously blew out our fire in the cabin, as if the stove with its artful revolving256 chimney had been nothing but a farthing rushlight. When I climbed on deck, we were already in the Bristol Channel.
That last view at sea was the grandest view of the voyage. Ragged257 black clouds were flying like spectres all over the sky; the moonlight streaming fitful behind them. One great ship, shadowy and mysterious, was pitching heavily towards us from the land. Backward out at sea, streamed the red gleam from the lighthouse on Lundy Island; and marching after us magnificently, to the music of the howling wind, came the great rollers from the Atlantic, rushing in between Hartland Point and Lundy, turning over and over in long black hills of water, with the seething258 spray at their tops sparkling in the moonshine. It was a fine breathless sensation to feel our sturdy little vessel tearing along through this heavy sea — jumping stern up, as the great waves caught her — dashing the water gaily259 from her bows, at the return dip — and holding on her way as bravely and surely as the largest yacht that ever was built. After a long look at the sublime260 view around us, my friend and I went below again; and in spite of the noise of wind and sea, managed to fall asleep. The next event was a call from deck at half-past six in the morning, informing us that we were entering Mangerton Bay. By seven o’clock we were alongside the jetty again, after a run of only forty-three hours from the Scilly Islands.
Thus our cruise ended; and thus we falsified the predictions of our prudent friends, and came back with our right side uppermost. “Here’s luck to you, gentlemen!”— was the toast which our honest sailor-brothers proposed, when we met together later in the day, and pledged each other in a parting cup. “Here’s luck,” we answered, on our side —“luck to the Brothers Dobbs; and thanks besides for hearty companionship and faithful service.” And here, in the last glass with one cheer more — here’s luck to the vessel that carried us, our lively little Tomtit! Tiny home of joyous days, may thy sea-fortunes be happy, and thy trim sails be set prosperously for many a year still, to the favouring breeze!
With those good wishes, our holiday trip closed at the time — as the record of it closes here. With those last words, the book is shut up; the reader is released; and the writer drops his pen.
The End
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1
gale
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| n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等） | |
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prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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valedictory
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| adj.告别的；n.告别演说 | |
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5
blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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facetious
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| adj.轻浮的，好开玩笑的 | |
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supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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9
fore
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| adv.在前面；adj.先前的；在前部的；n.前部 | |
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10
narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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11
bulwarks
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| n.堡垒( bulwark的名词复数 )；保障；支柱；舷墙 | |
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12
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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13
lockers
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| n.寄物柜( locker的名词复数 ) | |
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14
snug
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| adj.温暖舒适的，合身的，安全的；v.使整洁干净，舒适地依靠，紧贴；n.（英）酒吧里的私房 | |
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15
recesses
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| n.壁凹( recess的名词复数 )；（工作或业务活动的）中止或暂停期间；学校的课间休息；某物内部的凹形空间v.把某物放在墙壁的凹处( recess的第三人称单数 )；将（墙）做成凹形，在（墙）上做壁龛；休息，休会，休庭 | |
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16
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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seamen
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| n.海员 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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graphic
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| adj.生动的，形象的，绘画的，文字的，图表的 | |
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morsels
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| n.一口( morsel的名词复数 )；（尤指食物）小块，碎屑 | |
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lamentably
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| adv.哀伤地，拙劣地 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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procured
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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benevolence
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| n.慈悲，捐助 | |
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unlimited
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| adj.无限的，不受控制的，无条件的 | |
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hospitable
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| adj.好客的；宽容的；有利的，适宜的 | |
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embarkation
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| n. 乘船, 搭机, 开船 | |
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plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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naval
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| adj.海军的，军舰的，船的 | |
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anchovy
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| n.凤尾鱼 | |
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quay
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| n.码头，靠岸处 | |
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nautical
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| adj.海上的，航海的，船员的 | |
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climax
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| n.顶点；高潮；v.(使)达到顶点 | |
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tar
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| n.柏油，焦油；vt.涂或浇柏油/焦油于 | |
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scour
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| v.搜索；擦，洗，腹泻，冲刷 | |
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larder
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| n.食物贮藏室，食品橱 | |
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ravages
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| 劫掠后的残迹，破坏的结果，毁坏后的残迹 | |
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perishable
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| adj.（尤指食物）易腐的，易坏的 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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propensities
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| n.倾向，习性( propensity的名词复数 ) | |
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ravaged
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| 毁坏( ravage的过去式和过去分词 )； 蹂躏； 劫掠； 抢劫 | |
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43
secluded
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| adj.与世隔绝的；隐退的；偏僻的v.使隔开，使隐退( seclude的过去式和过去分词) | |
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44
accomplishments
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| n.造诣；完成( accomplishment的名词复数 )；技能；成绩；成就 | |
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45
desultory
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| adj.散漫的，无方法的 | |
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46
pounced
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| v.突然袭击( pounce的过去式和过去分词 )；猛扑；一眼看出；抓住机会（进行抨击） | |
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47
strapped
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| adj.用皮带捆住的，用皮带装饰的；身无分文的；缺钱；手头紧v.用皮带捆扎(strap的过去式和过去分词)；用皮带抽打；包扎；给…打绷带 | |
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48
martial
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| adj.战争的，军事的，尚武的，威武的 | |
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49
meritorious
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| adj.值得赞赏的 | |
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50
profaned
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| v.不敬( profane的过去式和过去分词 )；亵渎，玷污 | |
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51
pickles
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| n.腌菜( pickle的名词复数 )；处于困境；遇到麻烦；菜酱 | |
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52
purely
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| adv.纯粹地，完全地 | |
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53
swoop
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| n.俯冲，攫取；v.抓取，突然袭击 | |
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54
cape
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| n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风 | |
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55
convivial
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| adj.狂欢的，欢乐的 | |
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56
metropolitan
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| adj.大城市的，大都会的 | |
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57
mattresses
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| 褥垫，床垫( mattress的名词复数 ) | |
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58
curry
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| n.咖哩粉，咖哩饭菜；v.用咖哩粉调味，用马栉梳，制革 | |
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59
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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60
moored
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| adj. 系泊的 动词moor的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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61
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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62
tars
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| 焦油，沥青，柏油( tar的名词复数 ) | |
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63
huddled
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| 挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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64
fussy
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| adj.为琐事担忧的，过分装饰的，爱挑剔的 | |
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65
dexterity
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| n.(手的)灵巧，灵活 | |
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66
valiant
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| adj.勇敢的，英勇的；n.勇士，勇敢的人 | |
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67
piecemeal
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| adj.零碎的；n.片，块；adv.逐渐地；v.弄成碎块 | |
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68
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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69
feat
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| n.功绩；武艺，技艺；adj.灵巧的，漂亮的，合适的 | |
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70
feats
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| 功绩，伟业，技艺( feat的名词复数 ) | |
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71
legerdemain
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| n.戏法，诈术 | |
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72
commiseration
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| n.怜悯，同情 | |
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73
stolid
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| adj.无动于衷的，感情麻木的 | |
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74
civilized
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| a.有教养的，文雅的 | |
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75
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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76
contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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77
sitting-room
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| n.（BrE）客厅，起居室 | |
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78
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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79
incapability
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| n.无能 | |
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80
chattels
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| n.动产，奴隶( chattel的名词复数 ) | |
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81
slinging
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| 抛( sling的现在分词 )； 吊挂； 遣送； 押往 | |
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82
luxurious
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| adj.精美而昂贵的；豪华的 | |
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83
ingenuity
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| n.别出心裁；善于发明创造 | |
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84
intemperate
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| adj.无节制的，放纵的 | |
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85
embarked
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| 乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 )； 装载； 从事 | |
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86
virtues
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| 美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处 | |
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87
virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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88
hoisted
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| 把…吊起，升起( hoist的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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89
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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90
schooners
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| n.（有两个以上桅杆的）纵帆船( schooner的名词复数 ) | |
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91
oars
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| n.桨，橹( oar的名词复数 )；划手v.划（行）( oar的第三人称单数 ) | |
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92
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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93
guise
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| n.外表，伪装的姿态 | |
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94
splicing
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| n.编接（绳）；插接；捻接；叠接v.绞接( splice的现在分词 )；捻接（两段绳子）；胶接；粘接（胶片、磁带等） | |
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95
winding
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| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
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96
hues
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| 色彩( hue的名词复数 )； 色调； 信仰； 观点 | |
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97
watery
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| adj.有水的，水汪汪的；湿的，湿润的 | |
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98
lustrous
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| adj.有光泽的；光辉的 | |
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99
chirping
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| 鸟叫，虫鸣( chirp的现在分词 ) | |
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100
fragrant
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| adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的 | |
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101
soothe
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| v.安慰；使平静；使减轻；缓和；奉承 | |
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102
lustre
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| n.光亮，光泽；荣誉 | |
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103
enchantment
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| n.迷惑，妖术，魅力 | |
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104
chasms
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| 裂缝( chasm的名词复数 )； 裂口； 分歧； 差别 | |
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105
soften
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| v.(使)变柔软；(使)变柔和 | |
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106
perch
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| n.栖木，高位，杆；v.栖息，就位，位于 | |
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107
clump
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| n.树丛，草丛；vi.用沉重的脚步行走 | |
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108
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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109
tinge
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| vt.(较淡)着色于，染色；使带有…气息；n.淡淡色彩，些微的气息 | |
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110
twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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111
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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112
gateway
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| n.大门口，出入口，途径，方法 | |
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113
solitude
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| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
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114
pebbles
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| [复数]鹅卵石； 沙砾； 卵石，小圆石( pebble的名词复数 ) | |
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115
ornamented
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| adj.花式字体的v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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116
obstinate
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| adj.顽固的，倔强的，不易屈服的，较难治愈的 | |
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117
pier
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| n.码头；桥墩，桥柱；[建]窗间壁，支柱 | |
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118
precipice
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| n.悬崖，危急的处境 | |
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119
inquisitive
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| adj.求知欲强的，好奇的，好寻根究底的 | |
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120
hindrance
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| n.妨碍，障碍 | |
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121
perils
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| 极大危险( peril的名词复数 )； 危险的事（或环境） | |
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122
peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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123
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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124
promiscuously
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| adv.杂乱地，混杂地 | |
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125
amiability
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| n.和蔼可亲的，亲切的，友善的 | |
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126
regularity
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| n.规律性，规则性；匀称，整齐 | |
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127
grunt
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| v.嘟哝；作呼噜声；n.呼噜声，嘟哝 | |
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128
scruple
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| n./v.顾忌，迟疑 | |
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129
groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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130
intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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131
afflicted
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| 使受痛苦，折磨( afflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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132
gasps
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| v.喘气( gasp的第三人称单数 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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133
puffs
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| n.吸( puff的名词复数 )；（烟斗或香烟的）一吸；一缕（烟、蒸汽等）；（呼吸或风的）呼v.使喷出( puff的第三人称单数 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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134
suffocate
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| vt.使窒息，使缺氧，阻碍；vi.窒息，窒息而亡，阻碍发展 | |
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135
beset
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| v.镶嵌；困扰，包围 | |
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136
vividly
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| adv.清楚地，鲜明地，生动地 | |
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137
grumbling
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| adj. 喃喃鸣不平的, 出怨言的 | |
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138
serenely
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| adv.安详地，宁静地，平静地 | |
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139
gaseous
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| adj.气体的，气态的 | |
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140
outrageous
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| adj.无理的，令人不能容忍的 | |
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141
contemplate
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| vt.盘算，计议；周密考虑；注视，凝视 | |
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142
foes
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| 敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 ) | |
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143
wreck
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| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
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144
venting
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| 消除； 泄去； 排去； 通风 | |
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145
amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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146
murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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147
industriously
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148
incessant
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| adj.不停的，连续的 | |
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149
incessantly
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| ad.不停地 | |
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150
repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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151
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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152
bliss
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| n.狂喜，福佑，天赐的福 | |
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153
peremptory
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| adj.紧急的，专横的，断然的 | |
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154
tack
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| n.大头钉；假缝，粗缝 | |
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155
swells
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| 增强( swell的第三人称单数 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
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156
lasting
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| adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持 | |
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157
smack
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| vt.拍，打，掴；咂嘴；vi.含有…意味；n.拍 | |
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158
smacking
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| 活泼的，发出响声的，精力充沛的 | |
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159
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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160
muse
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| n.缪斯（希腊神话中的女神），创作灵感 | |
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161
alloy
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| n.合金，(金属的)成色 | |
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162
monarch
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| n.帝王，君主，最高统治者 | |
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163
vocal
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| adj.直言不讳的；嗓音的；n.[pl.]声乐节目 | |
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164
mariners
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| 海员，水手（mariner的复数形式） | |
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165
sluggard
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| n.懒人；adj.懒惰的 | |
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166
interfering
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| adj. 妨碍的 动词interfere的现在分词 | |
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167
slumbering
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| 微睡，睡眠（slumber的现在分词形式） | |
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168
victuals
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| n.食物；食品 | |
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169
dawdling
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| adj.闲逛的，懒散的v.混（时间）( dawdle的现在分词 ) | |
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170
slovenly
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| adj.懒散的，不整齐的，邋遢的 | |
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171
poking
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| n. 刺，戳，袋 vt. 拨开，刺，戳 vi. 戳，刺，捅，搜索，伸出，行动散慢 | |
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172
rosy
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| adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的 | |
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173
jersey
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| n.运动衫 | |
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174
attachment
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| n.附属物，附件；依恋；依附 | |
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175
minor
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| adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修 | |
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176
tawny
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| adj.茶色的，黄褐色的；n.黄褐色 | |
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177
cosily
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| adv.舒适地，惬意地 | |
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178
concoction
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| n.调配(物)；谎言 | |
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179
plunges
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| n.跳进，投入vt.使投入，使插入，使陷入vi.投入，跳进，陷入v.颠簸( plunge的第三人称单数 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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180
scrambling
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的现在分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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181
tickle
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| v.搔痒，胳肢；使高兴；发痒；n.搔痒，发痒 | |
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182
superfluous
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| adj.过多的，过剩的，多余的 | |
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183
winks
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| v.使眼色( wink的第三人称单数 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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184
teller
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| n.银行出纳员；(选举)计票员 | |
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185
mermaids
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| n.（传说中的）美人鱼( mermaid的名词复数 ) | |
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186
fumes
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| n.(强烈而刺激的)气味，气体 | |
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187
invoked
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| v.援引( invoke的过去式和过去分词 )；行使（权利等）；祈求救助；恳求 | |
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188
jovial
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| adj.快乐的，好交际的 | |
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189
descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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190
choir
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| n.唱诗班，唱诗班的席位，合唱团，舞蹈团；v.合唱 | |
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191
lodgers
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| n.房客，租住者( lodger的名词复数 ) | |
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192
screech
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| n./v.尖叫；(发出)刺耳的声音 | |
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193
sleeper
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| n.睡眠者，卧车，卧铺 | |
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194
bilious
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| adj.胆汁过多的；易怒的 | |
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195
steer
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| vt.驾驶，为…操舵；引导；vi.驾驶 | |
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196
glazed
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| adj.光滑的，像玻璃的；上过釉的；呆滞无神的v.装玻璃( glaze的过去式)；上釉于，上光；（目光）变得呆滞无神 | |
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197
ginger
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| n.姜，精力，淡赤黄色；adj.淡赤黄色的；vt.使活泼，使有生气 | |
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198
draught
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| n.拉，牵引，拖；一网（饮，吸，阵)；顿服药量，通风；v.起草，设计 | |
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199
audacity
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| n.大胆，卤莽，无礼 | |
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200
meekly
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| adv.温顺地，逆来顺受地 | |
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201
aspires
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| v.渴望，追求( aspire的第三人称单数 ) | |
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202
obstinacy
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| n.顽固；（病痛等）难治 | |
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203
adventurously
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| adv.爱冒险地 | |
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204
situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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205
favourable
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| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
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206
bowling
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| n.保龄球运动 | |
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207
remarkably
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| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
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208
drooping
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| adj. 下垂的，无力的 动词droop的现在分词 | |
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210
swarms
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| 蜂群，一大群( swarm的名词复数 ) | |
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211
gaping
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| adj.口的；张口的；敞口的；多洞穴的v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的现在分词 )；张开，张大 | |
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212
joyous
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| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
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213
runaway
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| n.逃走的人，逃亡，亡命者；adj.逃亡的，逃走的 | |
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214
steering
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| n.操舵装置 | |
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215
picturesque
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| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
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artistic
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| adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的 | |
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217
wary
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| adj.谨慎的，机警的，小心的 | |
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218
sinister
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| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
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219
swirling
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| v.旋转，打旋( swirl的现在分词 ) | |
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220
torrent
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| n.激流，洪流；爆发，(话语等的)连发 | |
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221
northward
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| adv.向北；n.北方的地区 | |
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222
smoothly
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| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
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223
glide
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| n./v.溜，滑行；(时间)消逝 | |
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224
eddies
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| （水、烟等的）漩涡，涡流( eddy的名词复数 ) | |
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225
isthmus
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| n.地峡 | |
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226
defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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227
plying
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| v.使用（工具）( ply的现在分词 )；经常供应（食物、饮料）；固定往来；经营生意 | |
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228
auspices
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| n.资助，赞助 | |
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229
sojourn
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| v./n.旅居，寄居；逗留 | |
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230
dominions
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| 统治权( dominion的名词复数 )； 领土； 疆土； 版图 | |
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231
lagoon
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| n.泻湖，咸水湖 | |
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232
circumference
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| n.圆周，周长，圆周线 | |
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233
varied
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| adj.多样的，多变化的 | |
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234
severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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235
panoramas
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| 全景画( panorama的名词复数 )； 全景照片； 一连串景象或事 | |
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236
granite
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| adj.花岗岩，花岗石 | |
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237
notably
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| adv.值得注意地，显著地，尤其地，特别地 | |
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238
limpid
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| adj.清澈的，透明的 | |
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239
Mediterranean
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| adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的 | |
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240
previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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241
specimen
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| n.样本，标本 | |
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242
tellers
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| n.（银行）出纳员( teller的名词复数 )；（投票时的）计票员；讲故事等的人；讲述者 | |
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243
marvels
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| n.奇迹( marvel的名词复数 )；令人惊奇的事物（或事例）；不平凡的成果；成就v.惊奇，对…感到惊奇( marvel的第三人称单数 ) | |
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244
unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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245
unwillingness
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| n. 不愿意，不情愿 | |
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246
pestilence
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| n.瘟疫 | |
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247
exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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248
benevolent
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| adj.仁慈的，乐善好施的 | |
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249
proprietor
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| n.所有人；业主；经营者 | |
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250
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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251
miserably
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| adv.痛苦地；悲惨地；糟糕地；极度地 | |
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252
prospects
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| n.希望，前途(恒为复数) | |
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253
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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254
tacking
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| （帆船）抢风行驶，定位焊[铆]紧钉 | |
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255
laggard
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| n.落后者；adj.缓慢的，落后的 | |
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256
revolving
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| adj.旋转的，轮转式的；循环的v.（使）旋转( revolve的现在分词 )；细想 | |
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257
ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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258
seething
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| 沸腾的，火热的 | |
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259
gaily
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| adv.欢乐地，高兴地 | |
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260
sublime
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| adj.崇高的，伟大的；极度的，不顾后果的 | |
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