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Records of a Family of Engineers-Part15_ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON(1850-1894)_English Literature(文学名著)-第2页

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line which was always in readiness, and by means of this



useful implement the boat was towed alongside of the floating

light, where, from her rolling motion, it required no small



management to get safely on board, as the men were much worn

out with their exertions in pulling from the rock. On the



present occasion the crews of both boats were completely

drenched with spray, and those who sat upon the bottom of the



boats to bale them were sometimes pretty deep in the water

before it could be cleared out. After getting on board, all



hands were allowed an extra dram, and, having shifted and got

a warm and comfortable dinner, the affair, it is believed, was



little more thought of.

[Thursday, 27th Aug.]



The tides were now in that state which sailors term the

dead of the neap, and it was not expected that any part of the



rock would be seen above water to-day; at any rate, it was

obvious, from the experience of yesterday, that no work could



be done upon it, and therefore the artificers were not

required to land. The wind was at west, with light breezes,



and fine clear weather; and as it was an object with the

writer to know the actual state of the Bell Rock at neap-



tides, he got one of the boats manned, and, being accompanied

by the landing-master, went to it at a quarter-past twelve.



The parts of the rock that appeared above water being very

trifling, were covered by every wave, so that no landing was



made. Upon trying the depth of water with a boathook,

particularly on the sites of the lighthouse and beacon, on the



former, at low water, the depth was found to be three feet,

and on the central parts of the latter it was ascertained to



be two feet eight inches. Having made these remarks, the boat

returned to the ship at two p.m., and the weather being good,



the artificers were found amusing themselves with fishing.

The SMEATON came from Arbroath this afternoon, and made fast



to her moorings, having brought letters and newspapers, with

parcels of clean linen, etc., for the workmen, who were also



made happy by the arrival of three of their comrades from the

workyard ashore. From these men they not only received all



the news of the workyard, but seemed themselves to enjoy great

pleasure in communicating whatever they considered to be



interesting with regard to the rock. Some also got letters

from their friends at a distance, the postage of which for the



men afloat was always free, so that they corresponded the more

readily.



The site of the building having already been carefully

traced out with the pick-axe, the artificers this day



commenced the excavation of the rock for the foundation or

first course of the lighthouse. Four men only were employed



at this work, while twelve continued at the site of the

beacon-house, at which every possible opportunity was



embraced, till this essential art of the operations should be

completed.



[Wednesday, 2nd Sept.]

The floating light's bell rung this morning at half-past



four o'clock, as a signal for the boats to be got ready, and

the landing took place at half-past five. In passing the



SMEATON at her moorings near the rock, her boat followed with

eight additional artificers who had come from Arbroath with



her at last trip, but there being no room for them in the

floating light's boats, they had continued on board. The



weather did not look very promising in the morning, the wind

blowing pretty fresh from W.S.W.: and had it not been that the



writer calculated upon having a vessel so much at command, in

all probability he would not have ventured to land. The



SMEATON rode at what sailors call a SALVAGEE, with a cross-

head made fast to the floating buoy. This kind of attachment



was found to be more convenient than the mode of passing the

hawser through the ring of the buoy when the vessel was to be



made fast. She had then only to be steered very close to the

buoy, when the salvagee was laid hold of with a boat-hook, and



the BITE of the hawser thrown over the cross-head. But the

salvagee, by this method, was always left at the buoy, and



was, of course, more liable to chafe and wear than a hawser

passed through the ring, which could be wattled with canvas,



and shifted at pleasure. The salvagee and cross method is,

however, much practised; but the experience of this morning



showed it to be very unsuitable for vessels riding in an

exposed situation for any length of time.






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