records of a family of engineers(一个工程师的家庭)-第20章
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considerable difficulty that； with the assistance of the sailors； he was
enabled to preserve alive his fire； and； while his feet were immersed in
water； his face was not only scorched but continually exposed to volumes
of smoke； accompanied with sparks from the fire； which were occasionally
set up owing to the strength and direction of the wind。
＇Wednesday； 26th Aug。＇
The wind had shifted this morning to N。N。W。； with rain； and was
blowing what sailors call a fresh breeze。 To speak； perhaps； somewhat
more intelligibly to the general reader； the wind was such that a fishing…
boat could just carry full sail。 But as it was of importance； specially in the
outset of the business； to keep up the spirit of enterprise for landing on all
practicable occasions； the writer； after consulting with the landing…master；
ordered the bell to be rung for embarking； and at half…past eleven the boats
reached the rock； and left it again at a quarter…past twelve； without；
however； being able to do much work； as the smith could not be set to
work from the smallness of the ebb and the strong breach of sea； which
lashed with great force among the bars of the forge。
Just as we were about to leave the rock the wind shifted to the S。W。；
and； from a fresh gale； it became what seamen term a hard gale； or such as
would have required the fisherman to take in two or three reefs in his sail。
It is a curious fact that the respective tides of ebb and flood are apparent
upon the shore about an hour and a half sooner than at the distance of
three or four miles in the offing。 But what seems chiefly interesting here
is that the tides around this small sunken rock should follow exactly the
same laws as on the extensive shores of the mainland。 When the boats
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left the Bell Rock to…day it was overflowed by the flood…tide； but the
floating light did not swing round to the flood…tide for more than an hour
afterwards。 Under this disadvantage the boats had to struggle with the
ebb…tide and a hard gale of wind； so that it was with the greatest difficulty
that they reached the floating light。 Had this gale happened in spring…
tides when the current was strong we must have been driven to sea in a
very helpless condition。
The boat which the writer steered was considerably behind the other；
one of the masons having unluckily broken his oar。 Our prospect of getting
on board； of course； became doubtful； and our situation was rather perilous；
as the boat shipped so much sea that it occupied two of the artificers to
bale and clear her of water。 When the oar gave way we were about half a
mile from the ship； but； being fortunately to windward； we got into the
wake of the floating light； at about 250 fathoms astern； just as the landing…
master's boat reached the vessel。 He immediately streamed or floated a
life…buoy astern； with a 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
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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
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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 t
