records of a family of engineers(一个工程师的家庭)-第25节
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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
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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。
Soon after the artificers landed they commenced work； but the wind
coming to blow hard； the SMEATON'S boat and crew； who had brought
their complement of eight men to the rock； went off to examine her riding
ropes； and see that they were in proper order。 The boat had no sooner
reached the vessel than she went adrift； carrying the boat along with her。
By the time that she was got round to make a tack towards the rock； she
had drifted at least three miles to leeward； with the praam…boat astern； and；
having both the wind and a tide against her； the writer perceived； with no
little anxiety； that she could not possibly return to the rock till long after its
being overflowed； for； owing to the anomaly of the tides formerly noticed；
the Bell Rock is completely under water when the ebb abates to the offing。
In this perilous predicament； indeed； he found himself placed between
hope and despair … but certainly the latter was by much the most
predominant feeling of his mind … situate upon a sunken rock in the middle
of the ocean； which； in the progress of the flood…tide； was to be laid under
water to the depth of at least twelve feet in a stormy sea。 There were this
morning thirty…two persons in all upon the rock； with only two boats；
whose complement； even in good weather； did not exceed twenty…four
sitters； but to row to the floating light with so much wind； and in so heavy
a sea； a complement of eight men for each boat was as much as could；
with propriety； be attempted； so that； in this way； about one…half of our
number was unprovided for。 Under these circumstances； had the writer
ventured to despatch one of the boats in expectation of either working the
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SMEATON sooner up towards the rock； or in hopes of getting her boat
brought to our assistance； this must have given an immediate alarm to the
artificers； each of whom would have insisted upon taking to his own boat；
and leaving the eight artificers belonging to the SMEATON to their
chance。 Of course a scuffle might have ensued； and it is hard to say； in
the ardour of men contending for life； where it might have ended。 It has
even been hinted to the writer that a party of the PICKMEN were
determined to keep exclusively to their own boat against all hazards。
The unfortunate circumstance of the SMEATON and her boat having
drifted was； for a considerable time； only known to the writer and to the
landing…master； who removed to the farther point of the rock； where he
kept his eye steadily upon the progress of the vessel。 While the artificers
were at work； chiefly in sitting or kneeling postures； excavating the rock；
or boring with the jumpers； and while their numerous hammers； with the
sound of the smith's anvil； continued； the situation of things did not appear
so awful。 In this state of suspense； with almost certain destruction at
hand； the water began to rise upon those who were at work on the lower
parts of the sites of the beacon and lighthouse。 From the run of sea upon
the rock； the forge fire was also sooner extinguished this morning than
usual； and the volumes of smoke having ceased； objects in every direction
became visible from all parts of the rock。 After having had about three
‘hours' work； the men began； pretty generally； to make towards their
respective boats for their jackets and stockings； when； to their
astonishment； instead of three； they found only two boats； the third being
adrift with the SMEATON。 Not a word was uttered by any one； but all
appeared to be silently calculating their numbers； and looking to each
other with evident marks of perplexity depicted in their countenances。
The landing… master； conceiving that blame might be attached to him for
allowing the boat to leave the rock； still kept at a distance。 At this critical
moment the author was standing upon an elevated part of Smith's Ledge；
where he endeavoured to mark the progress of the SMEATON； not a little
surprised that her crew did not cut the praam adrift； which greatly retarded
her way； and amazed that some effort was not making to bring at least the
boat； and attempt our relief。 The workmen looked steadfastly upon the
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writer； and turned occasionally towards the vessel； still far to leeward。 （1）
All this passed in the most perfect silence； and the melancholy solemnity
of the group made an impression never to be effaced from his mind。
（1） ‘Nothing was said； but I was LOOKED OUT OF
COUNTENANCE；' he says in a letter。
The writer had all along been considering of various schemes …
providing the men could be kept under command … which might be put in
practice for the general safety； in hopes that the SMEATON might be able
to pick up the boats to leeward； when they were obliged to leave the rock。
He was； accordingly； about to address the artificers on the perilous nature
of their circumstances； and to propose that all hands should unstrip their
upper clothing when the higher parts of the rock were laid under water；
that the seamen should remove every unnecessary weight and
encumbrance from the boats； that a specified number of men should go
into each boat； and that the remainder should hang by the gunwales； while
the boats were to be rowed gently towards the SMEATON； as the course
to the PHAROS； or floating light； lay rather to windward of the rock。
But when he attempted to speak his mouth was so parched that his tongue
refused utterance； and he now learned by experience that the saliva is as
necessary as the tongue itself for speech。 He turned to one of the pools
on the rock and lapped a little water； which produced immediate relief。
But what was his happiness； when on rising from this unpleasant beverage；
some one called out； ‘A boat！ a boat！' and； on looking around； at no great
distance； a large boat was seen through the haze making towards the rock。
This at once enlivened and rejoiced every heart。 The timeous visitor
proved to be James Spink； the Bell Rock pilot； who had come express
from Arbroath with letters。 Spink had for some time seen the
SMEATON； and had even supposed； from the state of the weather； that all
hands were on board of her till he approached more nearly and observed
people upon the rock； but not supposing that
