酷兔英语
    当前位置:
  1. 首页
  2. 文章
  3. 娱乐英语
  4. 原版小说
  5. 正文

Records of a Family of Engineers-Part32_ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON(1850-1894)_English Literature(文学名著)-第2页

0 收藏 0 分享 0 赞

章节正文
文章总共2页


defence of the windows, he was the more anxious at this time

to inspect it. Two well-manned boats were therefore ordered



to be in attendance; and, after some difficulty, the wind

being at N.N.E., they got safely into the western creek,



though not without encountering plentiful sprays. It would

have been impossible to have attempted a landing to-day, under



any other circumstances than with boats perfectly adapted to

the purpose, and with seamen who knew every ledge of the rock,



and even the length of the sea-weeds at each particular spot,

so as to dip their oars into the water accordingly, and



thereby prevent them from getting entangled. But what was of

no less consequence to the safety of the party, Captain



Wilson, who always steered the boat, had a perfect knowledge

of the set of the different waves, while the crew never



shifted their eyes from observing his motions, and the

strictest silence was preserved by every individual except



himself.

On entering the house, the writer had the pleasure to



find it in a somewhat habitable condition, the lower

apartments being closed in with temporary windows, and fitted



with proper storm-shutters. The lowest apartment at the head

of the staircase was occupied with water, fuel, and



provisions, put up in a temporary way until the house could be

furnished with proper utensils. The second, or light-room



store, was at present much encumbered with various tools and

apparatus for the use of the workmen. The kitchen immediately



over this had, as yet, been supplied only with a common ship's

caboose and plate-iron funnel, while the necessary cooking



utensils had been taken from the beacon. The bedroom was for

the present used as the joiners' workshop, and the strangers'



room, immediately under the light-room, was occupied by the

artificers, the beds being ranged in tiers, as was done in the



barrack of the beacon. The light-room, though unprovided with

its machinery, being now covered over with the cupola, glazed



and painted, had a very complete and cleanly appearance. The

balcony was only as yet fitted with a temporary rail,



consisting of a few iron stanchions, connected with ropes; and

in this state it was necessary to leave it during the winter.



Having gone over the whole of the low-water works on the

rock, the beacon, and lighthouse, and being satisfied that



only the most untoward accident in the landing of the

machinery could prevent the exhibition of the light in the



course of the winter, Mr. John Reid, formerly of the floating

light, was now put in charge of the lighthouse as principal



keeper; Mr. James Slight had charge of the operations of the

artificers, while Mr. James Dove and the smiths, having



finished the frame of the light-room, left the rock for the

present. With these arrangements the writer bade adieu to the



works for the season. At eleven a.m. the tide was far

advanced; and there being now little or no shelter for the



boats at the rock, they had to be pulled through the breach of

sea, which came on board in great quantities, and it was with



extreme difficulty that they could be kept in the proper

direction of the landing-creek. On this occasion he may be



permitted to look back with gratitude on the many escapes made

in the course of this arduousundertaking, now brought so near



to a successful conclusion.

[Monday, 5th Nov.]



On Monday, the 5th, the yacht again visited the rock,

when Mr. Slight and the artificers returned with her to the



workyard, where a number of things were still to prepare

connected with the temporaryfitting up of the accommodation



for the lightkeepers. Mr. John Reid and Peter Fortune were

now the only inmates of the house. This was the smallest



number of persons hitherto left in the lighthouse. As four

lightkeepers were to be the complement, it was intended that



three should always be at the rock. Its present inmates,

however, could hardly have been better selected for such a



situation; Mr. Reid being a person possessed of the strictest

notions of duty and habits of regularity from long service on



board of a man-of-war, while Mr. Fortune had one of the most

happy and contented dispositions imaginable.



[Tuesday, 13th Nov.]

From Saturday the 10th till Tuesday the 13th, the wind



had been from N.E. blowing a heavy gale; but to-day, the




文章总共2页
文章标签:名著  

章节正文
Copyright © 2023 Qeto All rights reserved.
商务合作 | 联系我们 | 关于我们 | 版权声明 | 隐私条款 | 如果智培

京ICP备05059198号-1 京公网安备 11011202003401号