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Records of a Family of Engineers-Part23_ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON(1850-1894)_English Literature(文学名著)-第2页

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bolt-sprits, and `made all snug' for a gale. At four p.m. the

SMEATON was obliged to slip her moorings, and passed the



tender, drifting before the wind, with only the foresail set.

In passing, Mr. Pool hailed that he must run for the Firth of



Forth to prevent the vessel from `riding under.'

On board of the tender the writer's chief concern was



about the eleven men left upon the beacon. Directions were

accordingly given that everything about the vessel should be



put in the best possible state, to present as little

resistance to the wind as possible, that she might have the



better chance of riding out the gale. Among these

preparations the best bower cable was bent, so as to have a



second anchor in readiness in case the mooring-hawser should

give way, that every means might be used for keeping the



vessel within sight of the prisoners on the beacon, and

thereby keep them in as good spirits as possible. From the



same motive the boats were kept afloat that they might be less

in fear of the vessel leaving her station. The landing-master



had, however, repeatedly expressed his anxiety for the safety

of the boats, and wished much to have them hoisted on board.



At seven p.m. one of the boats, as he feared, was unluckily

filled with sea from a wave breaking into her, and it was with



great difficulty that she could be baled out and got on board,

with the loss of her oars, rudder, and loose thwarts. Such



was the motion of the ship that in taking this boat on board

her gunwale was stove in, and she otherwise received



considerable damage. Night approached, but it was still found

quite impossible to go near the rock. Consulting, therefore,



the safety of the second boat, she also was hoisted on board

of the tender.



At this time the cabins of the beacon were only partially

covered, and had neither been provided with bedding nor a



proper fireplace, while the stock of provisions was but

slender. In these uncomfortable circumstances the people on



the beacon were left for the night, nor was the situation of

those on board of the tender much better. The rolling and



pitching motion of the ship was excessive; and, excepting to

those who had been accustomed to a residence in the floating



light, it seemed quite intolerable. Nothing was heard but the

hissing of the winds and the creaking of the bulkheads or



partitions of the ship; the night was, therefore, spent in the

most unpleasant reflections upon the condition of the people



on the beacon, especially in the prospect of the tender being

driven from her moorings. But, even in such a case, it



afforded some consolation that the stability of the fabric was

never doubted, and that the boats of the floating light were



at no great distance, and ready to render the people on the

rock the earliest assistance which the weather would permit.



The writer's cabin being in the sternmost part of the ship,

which had what sailors term a good entry, or was sharp built,



the sea, as before noticed, struck her counter with so much

violence that the water, with a rushing noise, continually



forced its way up the rudder-case, lifted the valve of the

water-closet, and overran the cabin floor. In these



circumstances daylight was eagerly looked for, and hailed with

delight, as well by those afloat as by the artificers upon the



rock.

[Friday, 2nd June]



In the course of the night the writer held repeated

conversations with the officer on watch, who reported that the



weather continued much in the same state, and that the

barometer still indicated 29.20 inches. At six a.m. the



landing-master considered the weather to have somewhat

moderated; and, from certain appearances of the sky, he was of



opinion that a change for the better would soon take place.

He accordingly proposed to attempt a landing at low-water, and



either get the people off the rock, or at least ascertain what

state they were in. At nine a.m. he left the vessel with a



boat well manned, carrying with him a supply of cooked

provisions and a tea-kettle full of mulled port wine for the



people on the beacon, who had not had any regular diet for

about thirty hours, while they were exposed during that



period, in a great measure, both to the winds and the sprays

of the sea. The boat having succeeded in landing, she



returned at eleven a.m. with the artificers, who had got off

with considerable difficulty, and who were heartily welcomed



by all on board.

Upon inquiry it appeared that three of the stones last






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