Previous to this, on March 21st, the coast was visited by a gale1 of such severity that immense mischief2 was done on shore. Ships in the port, houses, etcetera, at Plymouth, were greatly damaged; nevertheless, the unfinished tower out upon the exposed Eddystone reef stood fast, having defied the utmost fury of winds and waves.
It was found, however, that some loss had been sustained, the buoy4 of the mooring5 chain, as usual, was gone; but worse than that, one of the stones left in the store-room, a mass which weighed four and a half hundredweight, was missing. It had been washed out of the store-room entry by the water!
This was a serious loss, as it obliged the men to retire to the Buss, where they were constrained6 to spin yarns7 and twirl their thumbs in idleness till the lost stone was replaced by another. Then they went to work according to custom “with a will,” and, on the 21st of July, completed the second floor; a whole room with a vaulted8 roof having been built in seven days.
At this point they proceeded to fit in the entry and store-room doors; and here another vexatious check appeared imminent9. It was found that the block-tin with which the door-hooks were to be fastened had been forgotten!
Doubtless Mr Smeaton felt inclined to emulate10 the weather by “storming” on this occasion, but that would have been of no use. Neither was it of any avail that Teddy Maroon11 scratched his head and wrinkled his visage like that of a chimpanzee monkey. The tin was not; the hooks would not hold without it, and to send ashore12 for it would have involved great delay. Mr Smeaton proved equal to the occasion.
“Off with you, lads, to the Buss,” he cried, “and bring hither every pewter plate and dish on board.”
“Don’t think of it, but do it,” returned Smeaton, with a laugh.
The thing was done at once. The “plate” of the Buss was melted down and mixed with lead, the hooks were fixed15 into the jambs, and the doors were hung in triumph. Solid doors they were too; not slender things with wooden panels, but thick iron-plated affairs somewhat resembling the armour16 of a modern ship-of-war, and fitted to defy the ocean’s most powerful battering-rams.
Progress thereafter was steady and rapid. There were points here and there in the work which served as landmarks17. On the 6th of August Smeaton witnessed a strange sight—a bright halo round the top of the building. It was no miracle, though it looked like one. Doubtless some scientific men could give a satisfactory explanation of it, and prove that it was no direct interposition of the hand of God. So could they give a satisfactory account of the rainbow, though the rainbow is a direct sign to man. Whatever the cause, there the glory circled like a sign of blessing18 on the work, and a fitting emblem19 of the life-giving, because death-warding, beams which were soon to be sent streaming from that tower by the hand of man.
Three days afterwards they began to lay the balcony floor; on the 17th the main column was completed, and on the 26th the masonry20 was finished. It only remained that the lantern should be set up. But this lantern was a mighty21 mass of metal and glass, made with great care, and of immense strength and weight. Of course it had to be taken off to the rock in pieces, and we may almost say of course the ocean offered opposition22. Then, as if everything had conspired23 to test the endurance and perseverance24 of the builders, the first and second coppersmiths fell ill on the 4th September. Skilled labour such as theirs could not readily be replaced in the circumstances, and every hour of the now far advanced season had become precious. Smeaton had set his heart on “showing a light” that year. In this difficulty, being a skilled mechanic himself, he threw off his coat and set to work with the men.
The materials of the lantern were landed on the 16th and fitted together, and the cupola was hoisted26 to its place on the 17th. This latter operation was extremely hazardous27, the cupola being upwards28 of half a ton in weight, and it had to be raised outside the building and kept carefully clear of it the while. It seemed as if the elements themselves favoured this critical operation, or rather, as though they stood aghast and breathlessly still, while this, the crowning evidence of their defeat, was being put on. It was accomplished29 in less than half an hour, and, strange to say, no sooner was the tackling loosed and the screws that held the cupola fixed, than up got wind and sea once more in an uproarious gale of consternation30 from the east!
On the 18th a huge gilt31 ball was screwed on the top by Smeaton’s own hand, and thus the building of the Eddystone lighthouse was finished.
There still remained, however, a good deal of copper25 and wood-work to be done in the interior, but there was now no doubt in Smeaton’s mind that the light would be exhibited that season. He therefore removed his bed and stores from the Buss to the lighthouse, and remained there, the better to superintend the completion of the work.
One evening he looked into the upper storeroom, where some bars were being heated over a charcoal32 fire. He became giddy with the fumes33, staggered, and fell down insensible. Assuredly poor Smeaton’s labours would have terminated then and there if it had not been that one of the men had providentially followed him. A startled cry was heard—one of those cries full of meaning which cause men to leap half involuntarily to the rescue.
“Och! somebody’s kilt,” cried Maroon, flinging away his pipe and springing up the staircase, followed by others, “wather! wather! look alive there!”
Some bore Smeaton to the room below, and others ran down for sea-water, which they dashed over their master unmercifully. Whether or not it was the best treatment we cannot say, but it sufficed, for Smeaton soon recovered consciousness and found himself lying like a half drowned rat on the stone floor.
At last, on the 1st of October, the lantern was lighted for trial during the day, with 24 candles. They burned well though a gale was blowing. On the 4th an express was sent to the Corporation of the Trinity House to say that all was ready. A short delay was made to allow of the lighting-up being advertised, and finally, on the 16th of October 1759, the new Eddystone lighthouse cast its first benignant rays over the troubled sea.
It chanced on that day that an appropriate storm raged, as if to inaugurate the great event. Owing to this, Smeaton could not get off to be at the lighting-up of his own building. From the shore, however, he beheld34 its initiative gleam as it opened its bright eye to the reality of its grand position, and we can well believe that his hardy35, persevering36 spirit exulted37 that night over the success of his labours. We can well believe, also, that there was in him a deeper and higher feeling than that of mere38 joy, if we may judge of the cast of his mind by the inscriptions39 put by him upon his work during progress and at completion.
“Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it.”
And on the last stone set, over the door of the lantern, was carved:—
“Praise God!”
The lighthouse, thus happily completed, rose to a height of seventy feet, and consisted of forty-six courses of masonry. The internal arrangements will be understood at once by reference to our engraving41, which exhibits a section of the tower. There was first the solid part, 35 feet in height and 16 feet 8 inches in diameter at the top, the base being much wider. Then came the still very solid portion with the entrance-door and the spiral staircase. Above that, the first store-room, which had no windows. Next, the second store-room, with two windows. Next the kitchen, followed by the bed-room, both of which had four windows; and, last, the lantern. The rooms were 12 feet 4 inches in diameter, with walls 2 feet 2 inches thick, and the whole fabric42, from top to bottom, was so dovetailed, trenailed, cemented, inter-connected, and bound together, that it formed and still continues, a unique and immoveable mass of masonry.
There were others besides Smeaton who watched, that night, with deep interest the opening of the Eddystone’s bright eye.
In a humble43 apartment in the village of Cawsand Bay an aged3 man stood, supported by an elderly man, at a window, gazing seaward with an expression of intense expectation, while a very aged woman sat crooning over the fire, holding the hand of a fair girl just verging44 on early womanhood.
“D’ee see it yet, Tommy?” asked the old man, eagerly.
“No, not yet,” replied Tommy, “not—yes—there—!”
“Ah! that’s it, I see it,” cried old John Potter, with a faint gleam of his old enthusiasm. “There it goes, brighter than ever. A blessed light, and much wanted, Tommy, much, much wanted.”
He leaned heavily on his son’s arm and, after gazing for some time, asked to be taken back to his chair opposite old Martha.
“What is it?” inquired Martha, bending her ear towards a pretty little mouth.
“Grandfather has just seen the new Eddystone lighted up for the first time,” replied Nora.
“Ay, ay,” said Martha in a moralising tone, as she turned her eyes towards the fire, “ay, ay, so soon! I always had a settled conviction that that lighthouse would be burnt.”
“It’s not burnt, grannie,” said Nora, smiling, “it’s only lighted up.”
“Well, well, my dear,” returned Martha, with a solemn shake of the head, “there an’t much difference atween lighted-up an’ burnt-up. It’s just as I always said to your father, my dear—to your grandfather I mean—depend upon it, John, I used to say, that light’ouse will either be burnt up or blowed over. Ay, ay, dear me!”
She subsided45 into silent meditation46, and thus, good reader, we shall bid her farewell, merely remarking that she and her honest husband did not die for a considerable time after that. As she grew older and blinder, old Martha became more and more attached to the Bible and the dictionary, as well as to dear good blooming Nora, who assisted her in the perusal47 of the former, her sweet ringing voice being the only one at last that the old woman could hear. But although it was evident that Martha had changed in many ways, her opinions remained immoveable. She feebly maintained these, and held her “settled convictions” to the last gasp48.
As for Teddy Maroon, he returned to Ireland after the lighthouse was finished and quietly got married, and settled on the margin49 of the bog50 where the Teddy from whom he sprang still lingered, among his numerous descendants, the life of his juvenile51 kindred, and an oracle52 on lighthouses.
Time with its relentless53 scythe54 at last swept all the actors in our tale away: Generations after them came and went. The world grew older and more learned; whether more wise is still an open question! Knowledge increased, science and art advanced apace. Electricity, steam, iron, gold, muscle, and brain, all but wrought55 miracles, and almost everything underwent change more or less; but, amid all the turmoil56 of the world’s progress and all the storms of elemental strife57, one object remained unaltered, and apparently58 unalterable—the Eddystone Lighthouse! True, indeed, its lantern underwent vast improvements, the Argand lamp and lens replacing the old candle, and causing its crown to shine with a whiter light and an intensified59 glory as it grew older, but as regards its sturdy frame, there it has stood on the rugged60 rocks amid the tormented61 surges, presenting its bold and battered62, but undamaged, front to the utmost fury of blast and billow for upwards of a hundred years.
《The Young Fur Traders》
《The Thorogood Family》
《The Prairie Chief》
《The Island Queen》
《Deep Down》
该作者的其它作品
《The World of Ice》《The Young Fur Traders》
《The Thorogood Family》
《The Prairie Chief》
《The Island Queen》
《Deep Down》
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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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mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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buoy
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| n.浮标；救生圈；v.支持，鼓励 | |
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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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constrained
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| adj.束缚的,节制的 | |
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yarns
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| n.纱( yarn的名词复数 )；纱线；奇闻漫谈；旅行轶事 | |
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8
vaulted
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| adj.拱状的 | |
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imminent
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| adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的 | |
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10
emulate
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| v.努力赶上或超越，与…竞争；效仿 | |
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11
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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12
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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13
bland
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| adj.淡而无味的，温和的，无刺激性的 | |
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14
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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15
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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16
armour
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| （=armor）n.盔甲；装甲部队 | |
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17
landmarks
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| n.陆标( landmark的名词复数 )；目标；（标志重要阶段的）里程碑 ~ (in sth)；有历史意义的建筑物（或遗址） | |
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18
blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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19
emblem
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| n.象征，标志；徽章 | |
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20
masonry
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| n.砖土建筑；砖石 | |
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21
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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22
opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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23
conspired
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| 密谋( conspire的过去式和过去分词 )； 搞阴谋； （事件等）巧合； 共同导致 | |
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24
perseverance
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| n.坚持不懈，不屈不挠 | |
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25
copper
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| n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的 | |
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26
hoisted
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| 把…吊起，升起( hoist的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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27
hazardous
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| adj.(有)危险的，冒险的；碰运气的 | |
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28
upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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29
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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30
consternation
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| n.大为吃惊，惊骇 | |
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31
gilt
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| adj.镀金的；n.金边证券 | |
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32
charcoal
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| n.炭，木炭，生物炭 | |
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33
fumes
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| n.(强烈而刺激的)气味，气体 | |
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34
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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35
hardy
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| adj.勇敢的，果断的，吃苦的；耐寒的 | |
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persevering
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| a.坚忍不拔的 | |
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37
exulted
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| 狂喜，欢跃( exult的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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38
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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39
inscriptions
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| （作者）题词( inscription的名词复数 )； 献词； 碑文； 证劵持有人的登记 | |
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40
chiselled
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| adj.凿过的，凿光的； （文章等）精心雕琢的v.凿，雕，镌( chisel的过去式 ) | |
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41
engraving
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| n.版画；雕刻（作品）；雕刻艺术；镌版术v.在（硬物）上雕刻（字，画等）( engrave的现在分词 )；将某事物深深印在（记忆或头脑中） | |
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42
fabric
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| n.织物，织品，布；构造，结构，组织 | |
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43
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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44
verging
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| 接近，逼近（verge的现在分词形式） | |
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45
subsided
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| v.（土地）下陷（因在地下采矿）( subside的过去式和过去分词 )；减弱；下降至较低或正常水平；一下子坐在椅子等上 | |
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46
meditation
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| n.熟虑，（尤指宗教的）默想，沉思，（pl.）冥想录 | |
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47
perusal
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| n.细读，熟读；目测 | |
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48
gasp
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| n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说 | |
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49
margin
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| n.页边空白；差额；余地，余裕；边，边缘 | |
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50
bog
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| n.沼泽；室...陷入泥淖 | |
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51
juvenile
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| n.青少年，少年读物；adj.青少年的，幼稚的 | |
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52
oracle
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| n.神谕，神谕处，预言 | |
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53
relentless
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| adj.残酷的，不留情的，无怜悯心的 | |
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54
scythe
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| n. 长柄的大镰刀，战车镰； v. 以大镰刀割 | |
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55
wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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56
turmoil
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| n.骚乱，混乱，动乱 | |
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57
strife
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| n.争吵，冲突，倾轧，竞争 | |
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58
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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59
intensified
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| v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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60
rugged
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| adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的 | |
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61
tormented
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| 饱受折磨的 | |
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62
battered
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| adj.磨损的；v.连续猛击；磨损 | |
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