records of a family of engineers(一个工程师的家庭)-第21章
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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 the assistance of his boat was
necessary to carry the artificers off the rock； he anchored on the lee…side
and began to fish； waiting； as usual； till the letters were sent for； as the
pilot…boat was too large and unwieldy for approaching the rock when there
was any roughness or run of the sea at the entrance of the landing creeks。
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RECORDS OF A FAMILY OF ENGINEERS
Upon this fortunate change of circumstances； sixteen of the artificers
were sent； at two trips； in one of the boats； with instructions for Spink to
proceed with them to the floating light。 This being accomplished； the
remaining sixteen followed in the two boats belonging to the service of the
rock。 Every one felt the most perfect happiness at leaving the Bell Rock
this morning； though a very hard and even dangerous passage to the
floating light still awaited us； as the wind by this time had increased to a
pretty hard gale； accompanied with a considerable swell of sea。 Every
one was as completely drenched in water as if he had been dragged astern
of the boats。 The writer； in particular； being at the helm； found； on
getting on board； that his face and ears were completely coated with a thin
film of salt from the sea spray； which broke constantly over the bows of
the boat。 After much baling of water and severe work at the oars； the
three boats reached the floating light； where some new difficulties
occurred in getting on board in safety； owing partly to the exhausted state
of the men； and partly to the violent rolling of the vessel。
As the tide flowed； it was expected that the SMEATON would have
got to windward； but； seeing that all was safe； after tacking for several
hours and making little progress； she bore away for Arbroath； with the
praam…boat。 As there was now too much wind for the pilot…boat to return
to Arbroath； she was made fast astern of the floating light； and the crew
remained on board till next day； when the weather moderated。 There can
be very little doubt that the appearance of James Spink with his boat on
this critical occasion was the means of preventing the loss of lives at the
rock this morning。 When these circumstances； some years afterwards；
came to the knowledge of the Board； a small pension was ordered to our
faithful pilot； then in his seventieth year； and he still continues to wear the
uniform clothes and badge of the Lighthouse service。 Spink is a
remarkably strong man； whose TOUT ENSEMBLE is highly
characteristic of a North…country fisherman。 He usually dresses in a PE…
JACKET； cut after a particular fashion； and wears a large； flat； blue bonnet。
A striking likeness of Spink in his pilot…dress； with the badge or insignia
on his left arm which is characteristic of the boatmen in the service of the
Northern Lights； has been taken by Howe； and is in the writer's
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possession。
＇Thursday； 3rd Sept。＇
The bell rung this morning at five o'clock； but the writer must
acknowledge； from the circumstances of yesterday； that its sound was
extremely unwelcome。 This appears also to have been the feelings of the
artificers； for when they came to be mustered； out of twenty…six； only eight；
besides the foreman and seamen； appeared upon deck to accompany the
writer to the rock。 Such are the baneful effects of anything like
misfortune or accident connected with a work of this description。 The
use of argument to persuade the men to embark in cases of this kind would
have been out of place； as it is not only discomfort； or even the risk of the
loss of a limb； but life itself that becomes the question。 The boats；
notwithstanding the thinness of our ranks； left the vessel at half…past five。
The rough weather of yesterday having proved but a summer's gale； the
wind came to…day in gentle breezes； yet； the atmosphere being cloudy； it a
not a very favourable appearance。 The boats reached the rock at six a。m。；
and the eight artificers who landed were employed in clearing out the bat…
holes for the beacon…house； and had a very prosperous tide of four hours'
work； being the longest yet experienced by half an hour。
The boats left the rock again at ten o'clock； and the weather having
cleared up as we drew near the vessel； the eighteen artificers who had
remained on board were observed upon deck； but as the boats approached
they sought their way below； being quite ashamed of their conduct。 This
was the only instance of refusal to go to the rock which occurred during
the whole progress of the work； excepting that of the four men who
declined working upon Sunday； a case which the writer did not conceive
to be at all analogous to the present。 It may here be mentioned； much to
the credit of these four men； that they stood foremost in embarking for the
rock this morning。
＇Saturday； 5th Sept。＇
It was fortunate that a landing was not attempted this evening； for at
eight o'clock the wind shifted to E。S。E。； and at ten it had become a hard
gale； when fifty fathoms of the floating light's hempen cable were veered
out。 The
