records of a family of engineers(一个工程师的家庭)-第38章
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emotion and surprise； now vying in height with the beacon…house； for
although he had often viewed it from the extremity of the western railway
on the rock； yet the scene； upon the whole； seemed far more interesting
from the tender's moorings at the distance of about half a mile。
The SMEATON having just arrived at her moorings with a cargo； a
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signal was made for Captain Pool to come on board of the tender； that he
might be at hand to remove from the service any of those who might
persist in their discontented conduct。 One of the two principal leaders in
this affair； the master of one of the praam…boats； who had also steered the
boat which brought the letter to the beacon； was first called upon deck；
and asked if he had read the statement fixed up in the galley this afternoon；
and whether he was satisfied with it。 He replied that he had read the
paper； but was not satisfied； as it held out no alteration in the allowance；
on which he was immediately ordered into the SMEATON'S boat。 The
next man called had but lately entered the service； and； being also
interrogated as to his resolution； he declared himself to be of the same
mind with the praam…master； and was also forthwith ordered into the boat。
The writer； without calling any more of the seamen； went forward to the
gangway； where they were collected and listening to what was passing
upon deck。 He addressed them at the hatchway； and stated that two of
their companions had just been dismissed the service and sent on board of
the SMEATON to be conveyed to Arbroath。 He therefore wished each
man to consider for himself how far it would be proper； by any
unreasonableness of conduct； to place themselves in a similar situation；
especially as they were aware that it was optional in him either to dismiss
them or send them on board a man…of…war。 It might appear that much
inconveniency would be felt at the rock by a change of hands at this
critical period； by checking for a time the progress of a building so
intimately connected with the best interests of navigation； yet this would
be but of a temporary nature； while the injury to themselves might be
irreparable。 It was now therefore； required of any man who； in this
disgraceful manner； chose to leave the service； that he should instantly
make his appearance on deck while the SMEATON'S boat was alongside。
But those below having expressed themselves satisfied with their
situation…viz。； William Brown； George Gibb； Alexander Scott； John Dick；
Robert Couper； Alexander Shephard； James Grieve； David Carey； William
Pearson； Stuart Eaton； Alexander Lawrence； and John Spink … were
accordingly considered as having returned to their duty。 This disposition
to mutiny； which had so strongly manifested itself； being now happily
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suppressed； Captain Pool got orders to proceed for Arbroath Bay； and land
the two men he had on board； and to deliver the following letter at the
office of the workyard：…
'ON BOARD OF THE TENDER OFF THE BELL ROCK； 22ND
JUNE 1810； EIGHT O'CLOCK P。M。
‘DEAR SIR； … A discontented and mutinous spirit having manifested
itself of late among the landing…master's crew； they struck work to…day and
demanded an additional allowance of beer； and I have found it necessary
to dismiss D…d and M…e； who are now sent on shore with the SMEATON。
You will therefore be so good as to pay them their wages； including this
day only。 Nothing can be more unreasonable than the conduct of the
seamen on this occasion； as the landing… master's crew not only had their
allowance on board of the tender； but； in the course of this day； they had
drawn no fewer than twenty…four quart pots of beer from the stock of the
PATRIOT while unloading her。 … I remain； yours truly； ROBERT
STEVENSON。
‘To Mr。 LACHLAN KENNEDY； Bell Rock Office； Arbroath。'
On despatching this letter to Mr。 Kennedy； the writer returned to the
beacon about nine o'clock； where this afternoon's business had produced
many conjectures； especially when the SMEATON got under weigh；
instead of proceeding to land her cargo。 The bell on the beacon being
rung； the artificers were assembled on the bridge； when the affair was
explained to them。 He； at the same time； congratulated them upon the
first appearance of mutiny being happily set at rest by the dismissal of its
two principal abettors。
＇Sunday； 24th June＇
At the rock the landing of the materials and the building operations of
the light…room store went on successfully； and in a way similar to those of
the provision store。 To…day it blew fresh breezes； but the seamen
nevertheless landed twenty… eight stones； and the artificers built the fifty…
eighth and fifty…ninth courses。 The works were visited by Mr。 Murdoch；
junior； from Messrs。 Boulton and Watt's works of Soho。 He landed just
as the bell rung for prayers； after which the writer enjoyed much pleasure
from his very intelligent conversation； and； having been almost the only
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stranger he had seen for some weeks； he parted with him； after a short
interview； with much regret。
＇Thursday； 28th June＇
Last night the wind had shifted to north…east； and； blowing fresh； was
accompanied with a heavy surf upon the rock。 Towards high…water it had
a very grand and wonderful appearance。 Waves of considerable
magnitude rose as high as the solid or level of the entrance…door； which；
being open to the south…west； was fortunately to the leeward； but on the
windward side the sprays flew like lightning up the sloping sides of the
building； and although the walls were now elevated sixty…four feet above
the rock； and about fifty…two feet from high…water mark； yet the artificers
were nevertheless wetted； and occasionally interrupted； in their operations
on the top of the walls。 These appearances were； in a great measure； new
at the Bell Rock； there having till of late been no building to conduct the
seas； or object to compare with them。 Although； from the description of
the Eddystone Lighthouse； the mind was prepared for such effects； yet
they were not expected to the present extent in the summer season； the sea
being most awful to…day； whether observed from the beacon or the
building。 To windward； the sprays fell from the height above noticed in
the most wonderful cascades； and streamed down the walls of the building
in froth as white as snow。 To leeward of the lighthouse the collision or
meeting of the waves produced a pure white kind of DRIFT； it rose about
thirty feet in height； like a fine downy mist； which； in its fall； fell upon the
face and hands more like a dry powder than a liquid substance。 The
effect of these seas； as they raged among the beams and dashed upon the
higher parts of the beacon； produced a temporary tremulous motion
throughout the whole fabric； which to a stranger must have been frightful。
＇Sunday； 1st July＇
The writer had now been at the Bell Rock since the latter end of May；
or about six weeks； during four of which he had been a constant inhabitant
of the beacon without having been once off the rock。 After witnessing
the laying of the sixty… seventh or second course of the bedroom apartment；
he left the rock with the tender and went ashore； as some arrangements
were to be made for the future conduct of the works at Arbroath； which
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were soon to be brought to a close； the landing…master's crew having； in
the meantime； shifted on board of the PATRIOT。 In leaving the rock； the
writer kept his eyes fixed upon the lighthouse； which had recently got into
the form of a house； having several tiers or stories of windows。 Nor was
he unmindful of his habitation in the beacon … now far overtopped by the
masonry； … where he had spent several weeks in a kind of active retirement；
making practical experiment of the fewness of the positive wants of man。
His cabin measured not more than four feet three inches in breadth on the
floor； and though； from the oblique direction of the beams of the beacon； it
widened towards the top； yet it did not admit of the full extension of his
arms when he stood on the floor； while its length was little more than
sufficient for suspending a cot…bed during the night； calculated for being
triced up to the roof through the day； which left free room for the
admission of occasional visitants。 His folding table was attached with
hinges； immediately under the small window of the apartment； and his
books； barometer； thermometer； portmanteau； and two or three camp…
stools； formed the bulk of his movables。 His diet being plain； the
paraphernalia of the table were proportionally simple； though everything
had the appearance of comfort； and even of neatness； the walls being
covered with green cloth formed into panels with red tape； and his bed
festooned with curtains of yellow cotton…stuff。 If； in speculating upon
the abstract wants of man in such a state of exclusion； one were reduced to
a single book； the Sacred Volume … whether considered for the stri
