heroes of the telegraph-第26节
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are being the deck machinery for raising the cable； but it entailed a good deal of responsibility； which was flattering and agreeable to a young man of his parts。
'I own I like responsibility；' he wrote to Miss Austin； while fitting up the vessel； 'it flatters one； and then； your father might say； I have more to gain than lose。 Moreover； I do like this bloodless； painless combat with wood and iron； forcing the stubborn rascals to do my will； licking the clumsy cubs into an active shape； seeing the child of to… day's thought working to…morrow in full vigour at his appointed task。' Another letter； dated May 17； gives a picture of the start。 'Not a sailor will join us till the last moment； and then； just as the ship forges ahead through the narrow pass； beds and baggage fly on board； the men； half tipsy； clutch at the rigging； the captain swears； the women scream and sob； the crowd cheer and laugh； while one or two pretty little girls stand still and cry outright； regardless of all eyes。'
The Elba arrived at Bona on June 3； and Jenkin landed at Fort Genova； on Cape Hamrah； where some Arabs were building a land line。 'It was a strange scene；' he writes； 'far more novel than I had imagined； the high； steep bank covered with rich； spicy vegetation； of which I hardly knew one plant。 The dwarf palm； with fan…like leaves； growing about two feet high； forms the staple verdure。' After dining in Fort Genova； he had nothing to do but watch the sailors ordering the Arabs about under the 'generic term 〃Johnny。〃 ' He began to tire of the scene； although； as he confesses； he had willingly paid more money for less strange and lovely sights。 Jenkin was not a dreamer； he disliked being idle； and if he had had a pencil he would have amused himself in sketching what he saw。 That his eyes were busy is evident from the particulars given in his letter； where he notes the yellow thistles and 'Scotch…looking gowans' which grow there； along with the cistus and the fig…tree。
They left Bona on June 5； and； after calling at Cagliari and Chia； arrived at Cape Spartivento on the morning of June 8。 The coast here is a low range of heathy hills； with brilliant green bushes and marshy pools。 Mr。 Webb remarks that its reputation for fever was so bad as to cause Italian men…of…war to sheer off in passing by。 Jenkin suffered a little from malaria； but of a different origin。 'A number of the SATURDAY REVIEW here；' he writes； 'it reads so hot and feverish； so tomb…like and unhealthy； in the midst of dear Nature's hills and sea； with good wholesome work to do。'
There were several pieces of submerged cable to lift； two with their ends on shore； and one or two lying out at sea。 Next day operations were begun on the shore end； which had become buried under the sand； and could not be raised without grappling。 After attempts to free the cable from the sand in small boats； the Elba came up to help； and anchored in shallow water about sunset。 Curiously enough； the anchor happened to hook； and so discover the cable； which was thereupon grappled； cut； and the sea end brought on board over the bow sheave。 After being passed six times round the picking…up drum it was led into the hold； and the Elba slowly forged ahead； hauling in the cable from the bottom as she proceeded。 At half…past nine she anchored for the night some distance from the shore； and at three next morning resumed her picking up。 'With a small delay for one or two improvements I had seen to be necessary last night；' writes Jenkin； 'the engine started； and since that time I do not think there has been half an hour's stoppage。 A rope to splice； a block to change； a wheel to oil； an old rusted anchor to disengage from the cable； which brought it up these have been our only obstructions。 Sixty； seventy； eighty； a hundred； a hundred and twenty revolutions at last my little engine tears away。 The even black rope comes straight out of the blue； heaving water； passes slowly round an open…hearted； good…tempered…looking pulley； five feet in diameter； aft past a vicious nipper； to bring all up should anything go wrong； through a gentle guide on to a huge bluff drum； who wraps him round his body； and says； 〃 Come you must；〃 as plain as drum can speak； the chattering pauls say； 〃I've got him； I've got him； he can't come back；〃 whilst black cable； much slacker and easier in mind and body； is taken by a slim V…pulley and passed down into the huge hold； where half a dozen men put him comfortably to bed after his exertion in rising from his long bath。
'I am very glad I am here； for my machines are my own children； and I look on their little failings with a parent's eye； and lead them into the path of duty with gentleness and firmness。 I am naturally in good spirits； but keep very quiet； for misfortunes may arise at any instant； moreover； to…morrow my paying…out apparatus will be wanted should all go well； and that will be another nervous operation。 Fifteen miles are safely in； but no one knows better than I do that nothing is done till all is done。'
JUNE 11。'It would amuse you to see how cool （in head） and jolly everybody is。 A testy word now and then shows the nerves are strained a little； but every one laughs and makes his little jokes as if it were all in fun。。。。I enjoy it very much。'
JUNE 13； SUNDAY。'It now （at 10。30） blows a pretty stiff gale； and the sea has also risen； and the Elba's bows rise and fall about nine feet。 We make twelve pitches to the minute； and the poor cable must feel very sea…sick by this time。 We are quite unable to do anything； and continue riding at anchor in one thousand fathoms； the engines going constantly； so as to keep the ship's bows close up to the cable； which by this means hangs nearly vertical； and sustains no strain but that caused by its own weight and the pitching of the vessel。 We were all up at four； but the weather entirely forbade work for to…day； so some went to bed； and most lay down； making up our lee…way； as we nautically term our loss of sleep。 I must say Liddell is a fine fellow； and keeps his patience and his temper wonderfully； and yet how he does fret and fume about trifles at home！'
JUNE 16。'By some odd chance a TIMES of June 7 has found its way on board through the agency of a wretched old peasant who watches the end of the line here。 A long account of breakages in the Atlantic trial trip。 To…night we grapple for the heavy cable； eight tons to the mile。 I long to have a tug at him； he may puzzle me； and though misfortunes； or rather difficulties； are a bore at the time； life； when working with cables； is tame without them。2 p。m。 Hurrah！ he is hookedthe big fellowalmost at the first cast。 He hangs under our bows； looking so huge and imposing that I could find it in my heart to be afraid of him。'
JUNE 17。'We went to a little bay called Chia； where a fresh…water stream falls into the sea； and took in water。 This is rather a long operation； so I went up the valley with Mr。 Liddell。 The coast here consists of rocky mountains 800 to 1000 feet high； covered with shrubs of a brilliant green。 On landing； our first amusement was watching the hundreds of large fish who lazily swam in shoals about the river。 The big canes on the further side hold numberless tortoises； we are told； but see none； for just now they prefer taking a siesta。 A little further on； and what is this with large pink flowers in such abundance？… …the oleander in full flower！ At first I fear to pluck them； thinking they must be cultivated and valuable； but soon the banks show a long line of thick tall shrubs； one mass of glorious pink and green； set there in a little valley； whose rocks gleam out blue and purple colours； such as pre…Raphaelites only dare attempt； shining out hard and weird… like amongst the clumps of castor…oil plants； cistus； arbor…vitae； and many other evergreens； whose names； alas！ I know not； the cistus is brown now； the rest all deep and brilliant green。 Large herds of cattle browse on the baked deposit at the foot of these large crags。 One or two half…savage herdsmen in sheepskin kilts； etc。； ask for cigars； partridges whirr up on either side of us； pigeons coo and nightingales sing amongst the blooming oleander。 We get six sheep； and many fowls too； from the priest of the small village； and then run back to Spartivento and make preparations for the morning。'
JUNE 18。'The short length （of the big…cable） we have picked up was covered at places with beautiful sprays of coral； twisted and twined with shells of those small fairy animals we saw in the aquarium at home。 Poor little things！ they died at once； with their little bells and delicate bright tints。'
JUNE 19。'Hour after hour I stand on the fore…castle…head picking off little specimens of polypi and coral； or lie on the saloon deck reading back numbers of the TIMES； till something hitches； and then all is hurly…burly once more。 There are awnings all along the ship； and a most ancient and fish…like smell （from the decaying polypi） beneath。'
JUNE 22。'Yesterday the cable was often a lovely sight； coming out of the water one large incrustation of delicate net…like corals and long white curling shells。 No portion of the dirty black wire was visible； instead we had a garland of soft pink
