For want of the famous light the vessels bore straight down upon the Rock, and the wild waves danced and laughed, and displayed their white teeth and their seething9 ire, as if in exultation10 at the thought of the shattered hulls11 and mangled12 corpses13, which they hoped ere long to toss upon their crests14.
Fortunately, Man was on the “look out!” The Buss was tugging15 at her moorings off the Rock, and some of the seamen17 and hands were perambulating the deck, wishing for settled weather, and trying to pierce the gloom by which they were surrounded. Suddenly the two vessels were seen approaching. The alarm was given. Those on board the doomed19 ships saw their danger when too late, and tried to sheer off the fatal spot, but their efforts were fruitless. The exulting20 waves hurried them irresistibly21 on. In this extremity22 the Eddystone men leaped into their yawl, pushed off, and succeeded in towing both vessels out of danger; at once demonstrating the courage of English hearts and the need there was for English hands to complete the work on which they were then engaged.
Next day Mr Smeaton came off to visit the Rock, and the news of the rescue served him for a text on which to preach a lay-sermon as to the need of every man exerting himself to the uttermost in a work which was so obviously a matter of life and death. It was, however, scarcely necessary to urge these men, for they were almost all willing. But not all; in nearly every flock there is a black sheep or so, that requires weeding out. There were two such sheep among the builders of the Eddystone. Being good at everything, Smeaton was a good weeder. He soon had them up by the roots and cast out. A foreman proved to be disorderly, and tried to make the men promise, “that if he should be discharged they would all follow him.” Smeaton at once assembled the men and gave orders that such of them as had any dependence23 on, or attachment24 to, the refractory25 foreman, should take up his tools and follow him. Only one did so—the rest stood firm.
At this time the weather was very unsettled, and the work progressed slowly. Once or twice it was still further retarded26, by men who should have known better, in the following manner:
One evening one of the lighthouse boats was boarded by a cutter, the officer in charge of which proceeded to “impress” several of the men into the navy.
“It’s to be pressed we are,” murmured Teddy Maroon27 to one of his mates, in a vexed28 tone, “sure the tater-heads might know we’ve got an Admiralty protection.”
Whether the officer knew this or not, it was evident that he had overheard the remark, for, after selecting two of the best men, he turned, and, pointing to Maroon, said aloud:—
“Let that tater-head also jump on board. He’s not worth much, but the service is in want of powder-monkeys just now. Perhaps he’ll do. If not, I’ll send him back.”
Thus was the poor Irishman carried off with his two mates to fight the battles of his country! In a few days, however, they were all sent back, and the indiscreet officer who had impressed them got a reprimand for his pains. After the first season they had no further interruptions from this source.
Large mainsails were given them for their boats, with a lighthouse painted on each, and every man obtained besides a silver medal of exemption29 from impressment.
But this was only the commencement of poor Teddy’s “throubles” at that time. He had scarcely returned to his work when a new one overtook him. This was, however, in the way of business.
“Teddy, my fine fellow,” said Richardson, the foreman, as they stood on the deck of the Buss holding on to the mizzen shrouds30, “it’s quite clear to me that with the wind dead against them like this, the relief boat with Hill’s company won’t be able to get off, and as we’re short of provisions, I mean to take the big yawl and go ashore31 with my gang. As the best men are always chosen for posts of danger, I shall leave you in charge of the Buss with two hands—Smart and Bowden;—both stanch32 fellows as you know.”
“I’m your servant, sir,” said Teddy, “only if the best men are wanted here, hadn’t you better stop yourself, an’ I’ll take the rest ashore?”
Richardson did not see his way to this, though he acknowledged the compliment, and that evening Teddy found himself in command of the despised Buss, with half a gale33 blowing, and, as he observed, “more where that came from.”
Teddy was right, “more” did come, and kept him and his mates idle prisoners for a week. Indeed the whole of that month had been so stormy that from the 16th to the 30th only twenty hours’ work had been done on the Rock.
During six days the three men stuck to their post, but at the end of that time Teddy called a council of war.
“Gintlemen,” said he, ”(for men in our pursition must be purlite to sich other), it’s our dooty to stick by this here tub so long’s it’s of any use to do so; but as she seems to be well able to look after herself, an’ our purvisions has come down to the last ounce, it’s my opinion—founded on profound meditations34 over me last pipe—that we’d better go ashore.”
To this speech John Bowden replied “I’m agreeable, for it’s not my dooty to starve myself.”
William Smart, however, intimated that he was “disagreeable.”
“Because,” said he, “its blowin’ great guns, an’ looks as if it meant to go on, which is not a state of weather suitable for goin’ over a dozen miles of sea in a small open boat, without even a mast or a rag of sail to bless herself with.”
“Pooh!” exclaimed Maroon, contemptuously; “a blanket’ll make the best of sails.”
“Ay,” added Bowden, “and an oar18 will do well enough for a mast—anyhow we’ll try, for most votes carry in all well-regulated meetin’s.”
This plan, although attended with considerable danger, was finally agreed to, and forthwith acted on.
That afternoon the men on shore observed a very Robinson-Crusoe-like boat coming in from the sea with an oar-mast and a blanket-sail, from which landed “Captain” Teddy Maroon and his two mates. The same evening, however, the wind moderated and shifted a little, so that the relief boat, with provisions and the gang of men whose turn it was to do duty in the store-ship, succeeded in getting off and reaching their Buss in safety.
The weather became so bad soon after this that Smeaton thought it wise to bring his operations for that season to a close. Accordingly, on the 7th November, he visited the Rock, which had been cut into a regular floor of successive terraces or steps, and was considerably35 larger in circumference36 than the foundation on which Rudyerd’s building had rested. On the 15th the Buss sailed into Plymouth, the men having run out of provisions, and having been unable to do anything on the Rock.
A great storm raged on the 22nd. On the previous day Smeaton had gone off in the Buss to attach a buoy37 to the mooring16 chains for that winter. The task was laborious38, and when it was completed they found it impossible to return to Plymouth, owing to the miserable39 sailing qualities of their vessel6. There was nothing for it but to cast loose and run before the wind. While doing so they snapt the painter of the yawl, and lost it.
Thus they were, as it were, cast adrift upon the sea with neither maps, charts, books, nor instruments to guide them. No alarm, however, was felt, the neighbouring headlands being bold, and all on board having previously40 been at Fowey, to which port Smeaton now gave orders to steer41.
Wet and worn out with labour, he then went below to snatch a few hours’ repose42. In the night he was awakened43 by a tremendous noise overhead. The men were rushing about the deck, and shouting wildly. He sprang up without dressing44. A voice, exclaiming, “For God’s sake heave hard on that rope if you want to save yourselves!” saluted45 him as he gained the deck. Roaring wind, a deluge46 of rain, and pitch darkness held revel47 on the sea; but above the din1 was heard the dreaded48 sound of breakers close under their lee. The jib was split, the mainsail half-lowered, and the vessel running gunwale under. By vigorous and well-directed action, in which John Bowden proved himself to be one of those men who are towers of strength in emergencies, the head of the Buss was brought round, and the immediate49 danger averted50, but they had no idea where they were, and when day broke on the 23rd they found themselves out of sight of land! Their last boat, also, had filled while towing astern, and had to be cut adrift. At noon, however; they sighted the Land’s End—the wind blowing hard from the nor’-east.
“No chance o’ making a British port in this wind with such a vessel, sir,” said John Bowden, touching51 his cap respectfully to Mr Smeaton.
“As well try to bate52 to win’ard in me grandmother’s wash-tub,” remarked Teddy Maroon, in a disrespectful tone.
Smeaton, agreeing with them, lay-to the whole of the 24th, and then, casting anchor, debated whether it were better to make for the coast of France or try to reach the Scilly Islands. Fortunately a change of wind on the 25th enabled them to weigh anchor and run back to Plymouth rejoicing; and vowing53, as John Bowden said, never more to venture out to sea in a Buss! They reached the harbour at six in the morning, to the intense relief of their friends, who had given them up for lost.
Thus ended the first season—1756.
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1
din
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| n.喧闹声，嘈杂声 | |
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2
lashing
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| n.鞭打；痛斥；大量；许多v.鞭打( lash的现在分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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3
interdict
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| v.限制；禁止；n.正式禁止；禁令 | |
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proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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7
triumphantly
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| ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地 | |
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8
presumptuous
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| adj.胆大妄为的，放肆的，冒昧的，冒失的 | |
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9
seething
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| 沸腾的，火热的 | |
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exultation
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| n.狂喜，得意 | |
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11
hulls
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| 船体( hull的名词复数 )； 船身； 外壳； 豆荚 | |
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12
mangled
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| vt.乱砍（mangle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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13
corpses
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| n.死尸，尸体( corpse的名词复数 ) | |
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14
crests
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| v.到达山顶（或浪峰）( crest的第三人称单数 )；到达洪峰，达到顶点 | |
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15
tugging
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| n.牵引感v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的现在分词 ) | |
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16
mooring
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| n.停泊处；系泊用具，系船具；下锚v.停泊，系泊（船只）(moor的现在分词) | |
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17
seamen
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| n.海员 | |
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18
oar
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| n.桨，橹，划手；v.划行 | |
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19
doomed
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| 命定的 | |
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exulting
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| vi. 欢欣鼓舞，狂喜 | |
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21
irresistibly
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| adv.无法抵抗地，不能自持地；极为诱惑人地 | |
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22
extremity
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| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
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23
dependence
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| n.依靠，依赖；信任，信赖；隶属 | |
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attachment
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| n.附属物，附件；依恋；依附 | |
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refractory
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| adj.倔强的，难驾驭的 | |
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retarded
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| a.智力迟钝的，智力发育迟缓的 | |
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27
maroon
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| v.困住，使（人）处于孤独无助之境；n.逃亡黑奴；孤立的人；酱紫色，褐红色；adj.酱紫色的，褐红色的 | |
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28
vexed
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| adj.争论不休的；（指问题等）棘手的；争论不休的问题；烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论 | |
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29
exemption
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| n.豁免，免税额，免除 | |
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30
shrouds
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| n.裹尸布( shroud的名词复数 )；寿衣；遮蔽物；覆盖物v.隐瞒( shroud的第三人称单数 )；保密 | |
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31
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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32
stanch
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| v.止住（血等）；adj.坚固的；坚定的 | |
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33
gale
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| n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等） | |
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34
meditations
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| 默想( meditation的名词复数 )； 默念； 沉思； 冥想 | |
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35
considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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36
circumference
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| n.圆周，周长，圆周线 | |
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37
buoy
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| n.浮标；救生圈；v.支持，鼓励 | |
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38
laborious
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| adj.吃力的，努力的，不流畅 | |
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39
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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40
previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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41
steer
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| vt.驾驶，为…操舵；引导；vi.驾驶 | |
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42
repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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43
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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44
dressing
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| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
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45
saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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46
deluge
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| n./vt.洪水，暴雨，使泛滥 | |
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47
revel
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| vi.狂欢作乐，陶醉；n.作乐，狂欢 | |
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48
dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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49
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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50
averted
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| 防止，避免( avert的过去式和过去分词 )； 转移 | |
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51
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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52
bate
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| v.压制；减弱；n.（制革用的）软化剂 | |
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53
vowing
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| 起誓，发誓（vow的现在分词形式） | |
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