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twg_000012589900 | to the point. I came here chiefly for the purpose of asking you to let your nephew go with me, as I am in want of a youth to assist me, as a sort of supercargo and Jack-of-all-trades. In fact, I like your nephew much, and have long had my eye on him. I think him the very man for | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589901 | my purpose. I want a companion, too, in my business--one who is good at the pen and can turn his hand to anything. In short, it would be difficult to explain all the outs and ins of why I want him. But he's a tight, clever fellow, as I know, and I _do_ want him, and if you'll let him | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589902 | go, I promise to bring him safe back again in the course of two years--if we are all spared. From what you've told me, I've no doubt the lad will be delighted to go. And, believe me, his golden dreams will be all washed out by the time he comes back. Now, what say you!" For the space of five | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589903 | minutes Mr Shirley gazed at the captain over his spectacles in amazement, and said nothing. Then he threw himself back on his chair, pushed his spectacles up on his forehead, and gazed at him from underneath these assistants to vision. The alteration did not seem to improve matters, for he still continued to gaze in si... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589904 | lips moved, and he said, slowly but emphatically-- "Now, that is the most remarkable coincidence I ever heard of." "How so?" inquired the captain. "Why, that my nephew should be raving about going to California, and that you should be raving about getting him to go, and that these things should suddenly come to a clima... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589905 | It's absolutely incredible. If I had read it in a tale, now, or a romance, I would not have been surprised, for authors are such blockheads, generally, that they always make things of this kind fit in with the exactness of a dove-tail; but that it should _really_ come to pass in my own experience, is quite incomprehens... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589906 | suddenly, too!" "As to that," remarked the captain, with a serious, philosophical expression of countenance, "most things come to a climax suddenly, and coincidences invariably happen together; but, after all, it doesn't seem so strange to me, for vessels are setting sail for California every other day, and--" "Well," ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589907 | suddenly formed a great resolve, "I _will_ let the boy go. Perhaps it will do him good. Besides, I have my own reasons for not caring much about his losing a year or two in regard to business. Come with me to the city, captain, and we'll talk over it as we go along." So saying, Mr Shirley took his | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589908 | kinsman by the arm, and they left the house together. CHAPTER FOUR. THE END OF THE BEGINNING--FAREWELL TO OLD ENGLAND. As Captain Bunting sagaciously remarked, "most things come to a climax suddenly." On the evening of the day in which our tale begins, Edward Sinton--still standing at zero--walked into his uncle's parl... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589909 | at the cat, which sat on the rug; and the cat was looking attentively at the kettle, which sat on the fire, hissing furiously, as if it were disgusted at being kept so long from tea. Ned's face was very long and sad as he entered the room. "Dear uncle," said he, taking Mr Shirley by the hand, "I'm not | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589910 | going to take a week to think over it. I have made up my mind to remain at home, and become a lawyer." "Ned," replied Mr Shirley, returning his nephew's grasp, "I'm not going to take a week to think over it either. I have made up my mind that you are to go to California, and become a--a--whatever you | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589911 | like, my dear boy; so sit down to tea, and I'll tell you all about it." Ned was incredulous at first, but as his uncle went on to explain how matters stood, and gradually diverged from that subject to the details of his outfit, he recovered from his surprise, and sprang suddenly up to degrees of Fahrenheit, even in the | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589912 | shade of the prospect of parting for a time from old Mr Shirley. Need we be surprised, reader, that our hero on that night dreamed the golden dream over again, with many wonderful additions, and sundry remarkable variations. Thus it came to pass that, two weeks afterwards, Ned and his uncle found themselves steaming do... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589913 | the good ship _Roving Bess_ lay riding at anchor, with a short cable, and top-sails loose, ready for sea. "Ned," said Mr Shirley, as they watched the receding banks of the noble river, "you may never see _home_ again, my boy. Will you be sure not to forget me! will you write often, Ned!" "Forget you, uncle!" exclaimed ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589914 | a reproachful voice, while a tear sprang to his eye. "How can you suggest such a--" "Well, well, my boy, I know it--I know it; but I like to hear the assurance repeated by your own lips. I'm an old man now, and if I should not live to see you again, I would like to have some earnest, loving | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589915 | words to think upon while you are away." The old man paused a few moments, and then resumed-- "Ned, remember when far from home, that there is another home--eternal in the heavens--to which, if you be the Lord's child, you are hastening. You will think of that home, Ned, won't you! If I do not meet you again here at | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589916 | any rate I shall hope to meet you _there_." Ned would have spoken, but his heart was too full. He merely pressed old Mr Shirley's arm. "Perhaps," continued his uncle, "it is not necessary to make you promise to read God's blessed Word. You'll be surrounded by temptations of no ordinary kind in the gold-regions; and dep... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589917 | the Bible, read with prayer, will be the best chart and compass to guide you safely through them all." "My dear uncle," replied Ned, with emotion, "perhaps the best promise I can make is to assure you that I will endeavour to do, in all things and at all times, as you have taught me, ever since I was a | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589918 | little boy. If I succeed, I feel assured that I shall do well." A long and earnest conversation ensued between the uncle and nephew, which was interrupted at last, by the arrival of the boat at Gravesend. Jumping into a wherry, they pushed off, and were soon alongside of the _Roving Bess_, a barque of about eight hundr... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589919 | and, according to Captain Bunting, "an excellent sea-boat." "Catch hold o' the man-ropes," cried the last-named worthy, looking over the side; "that's it; now then, jump! all right! How are ye, kinsman? Glad to see you, Ned. I was afraid you were goin' to give me the slip." "I have not kept you waiting, have I?" inquir... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589920 | have, youngster," replied the captain, with a facetious wink, as he ushered his friends into the cabin, and set a tray of broken biscuit and a decanter of wine before them. "The wind has been blowin' off shore the whole morning, and the good ship has been straining at a short cable like a hound chained up. But we'll be | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589921 | off now in another half-hour." "So soon?" said Mr Shirley, with an anxious expression on his kind old face. "All ready to heave up the anchor, sir," shouted the first mate down the companion. The captain sprang on deck, and soon after the metallic clatter of the windlass rang a cheerful accompaniment to the chorus of t... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589922 | one the white sails spread out to the breeze, and the noble ship began to glide through the water. In a few minutes more the last words were spoken, the last farewell uttered, and Mr Shirley stood alone in the stern-sheet of the little boat, watching the departing vessel as she gathered way before the freshening breeze... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589923 | the boat was visible Ned Sinton stood on the ship's bulwarks, holding on to the mizzen shrouds, and waving his handkerchief from time to time. The old man stood with his head uncovered, and his thin locks waving in the wind. Soon the boat was lost to view. Our hero brushed away a tear, and leaped upon the deck, where | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589924 | the little world, of which for many days to come he was to form a part, busied itself in making preparation for a long, long voyage. The British Channel was passed; the Atlantic Ocean was entered; England sank beneath the horizon; and, for the first time in his life, Ned Sinton found himself--at sea. CHAPTER FIVE. THE ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589925 | DEEP, AND UNCERTAINTY OF HUMAN AFFAIRS--A DISASTROUS NIGHT AND A BRIGHT MORNING--CALIFORNIA AT LAST. Only those who have dwelt upon the ocean for many months together can comprehend the feelings of delight, with which the long-imprisoned voyager draws near to his desired haven. For six long months did the _Roving Bess_... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589926 | deep. During that time she steered towards the Gulf of Mexico--carefully avoiding that huge reservoir of sea-weed, termed the Saragossa sea, in which the unscientific but enterprising mariners of old used to get becalmed oftentimes for days and weeks together--she coasted down the eastern shores of South America; fired... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589927 | fought with the tempests that take special delight in revelling there; and, finally, spreading her sails to the genial breezes of the Pacific Ocean, drew near to her voyage-end. All this the good ship _Roving Bess_ did with credit to herself and comfort to her crew; but a few weeks after she entered the Pacific, she wa... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589928 | all expectation, by the bitterest gale that had ever compelled her to scud under bare poles. It was a beautiful afternoon when the first symptoms of the coming storm were observed. Captain Bunting had just gone down below, and our hero was standing at the weather gangway, observing the sudden dart of a shoal of flying-... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589929 | the sea, whizzed through the air a few hundred feet, and fell with a splash into the water, in their frantic efforts to escape from their bitter enemy, the dolphin. While Ned gazed contemplatively at the spot where the winged fish had disappeared, the captain sprang on deck. "We're goin' to catch it," he said, hurriedl... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589930 | "tumble up, there; tumble up; all hands to shorten sails. Hand down the royals, and furl the t'gallant sails, Mr Williams, (to the first mate,) and look alive." "Ay, ay, sir," was answered in that prompt tone of voice which indicates thorough discipline and unquestioning obedience, while the men scrambled up the fore-h... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589931 | hand. A moment before, the vessel had lain quietly on the bosom of the unruffled deep, as if she were asleep, now she was all uproar and apparent confusion; sails slewed round, ropes rattled, and blocks creaked, while the sonorous voice of the first mate sounded commands like a trumpet from the quarter-deck. "I see no ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589932 | remarked young Sinton, as the captain walked aft. "Possibly not, lad; but _I_ do. The barometer has fallen lower, all of a sadden, than I ever saw it fall before. You may depend upon it, we shall have to look out for squalls before long. Just cast your eyes on the horizon over the weather bows there; it's not much | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589933 | of a cloud, and, to say truth, I would not have thought much of it had the glass remained steady, but that faithful servant never--" "Better close-reef the top-sails, sir," said the mate, touching his cap, and pointing to the cloud just referred to. "Do so, Mr Williams, and let the watch below remain on deck, and stand... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589934 | man the halyards." In less than an hour the _Roving Bess_ was running at the rate of twelve knots, under close-reefed top-sails, before a steady gale, which in half-an-hour later increased to a hurricane, compelling them to take in all sail and "lay to." The sun set in a blaze of mingled black and lurid clouds, as if t... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589935 | were on fire; the billows rose to their utmost height as the shrieking winds heaved them upwards, and then, cutting off their crests, hurled the spray along like driving clouds of snow, and dashed it against the labouring ship, as if impatient to engulf her in that ravening maw which has already swallowed up so many hu... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589936 | little vessel faced the tempest nobly, and rose like a sea-mew on the white crest of each wave, while the steersmen--for there were two lashed to the wheel--kept her to the wind. Suddenly the sheet of the fore trysail parted, the ship came up to the wind, and a billow at that moment broke over her, pouring tons of wate... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589937 | on her deck, and carrying away the foremast, main-top-masts, and the jib-boom. "Clear the wreck--down the helm, and let her scud," shouted the captain, who stood by the mizzen-mast, holding on to a belaying-pin. But the captain's voice was drowned by the whistling winds, and, seeing that the men were uncertain what to ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589938 | which were lashed to the foot of the mast, and began to cut away the ropes which dragged the wreck of the foremast under the lee of the ship. Williams, the mate, and the second mate, followed his example, while Ned sprang to the wheel to see the orders to the steersmen obeyed. In half-an-hour all was clear, and the | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589939 | ship was scudding before the gale under bare poles. "We've not seen the worst of it," remarked the captain, as he resumed his post on the quarter-deck, and brushed the brine from his whiskers; "I fear, too, that she has received some bad thumps from the wreck of the foremast. You'd better go below, Sinton, and put on a... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589940 | its no use gettin' wetter than you can help." "I'm as wet as I can be, captain; besides, I can work better as I am, if there's anything for me to do." "Well, there ain't much: you'll have enough to do to keep yourself from being washed overboard. How's her head, Larry?" "Nor' east an' by east," replied one of | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589941 | the men at the wheel, Larry O'Neil by name--a genuine son of Erin, whose jovial smile of rollicking good humour was modified, but by no means quenched, by the serious circumstances in which he found himself placed. His comrade, William Jones, who stood on the larboard side of the wheel, was a short, thick-set, stern se... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589942 | scarcely capable of breaking into a smile, and certainly failed to betray any of the owner's thoughts or feelings, excepting astonishment. Such passions as anger, pity, disgust, fear, and the like, whatever place they might have in Jones's breast, had no visible index on his visage. Both men were sailor-like and powerf... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589943 | as they stood--the one sternly, the other smilingly--steering the _Roving Bess_ before that howling storm. "Is not `nor' east and by east' our direct course for the harbour of San Francisco?" inquired Ned Sinton. "It is," replied the captain, "as near as I can guess; but we've been blown about so much that I can't tell... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589944 | opinion we can't be far off the coast now; and if this gale holds on I'll have to bring to, at the risk of bein' capsized. Them plaguey coral-reefs, too, are always springin' up in these seas where you least expect 'em. If we go bump against one as we are goin' now, its all up with us." "Not a | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589945 | pleasant idea," remarked Ned, somewhat gravely. "Do these storms usually last long?" Before the captain could reply, the first mate came up and whispered in his ear. "Eh! how much d'ye say?" he asked quickly. "Five feet, sir; she surged heavily once or twice on the foremast, and I think must have started a plank." "Cal... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589946 | the pumps; and don't let the men know how much water there is in the hold. Come below, Ned. I want you. Keep her head steady as she goes." "Ay, ay, sir," sang out O'Neil, as the captain descended the companion-hatch to the cabin, followed by his young friend. The dim light in the swinging lamp flickered fitfully when t... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589947 | ship plunged into the troughs of the seas, and rose again with a violent surge, as each wave passed under her, while every plank and spar on board seemed to groan under the strain. Darkness now added to the terrors of the wild storm. Sitting down on a locker, Captain Bunting placed his elbows on the table, and covering... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589948 | face with his hands, remained silent for several minutes, while Ned sat down beside him, but forbore to interrupt his thoughts. "Boy," he said, at length, looking up anxiously, "we've sprung a leak, and a few minutes will shew what our fate is to be. Five feet of water in the hold in so short a time implies a bad | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589949 | one." "Five feet two, sir," said the mate, looking in at the cabin door; "and the carpenter can't get at the leak." "I feared as much," muttered the captain. "Keep the men hard at the pumps, Mr Williams, and let me hear how it stands again in ten minutes." "Captain," said Ned, "it does not become a landsman to suggest, | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589950 | perhaps, but I can't help reminding you, that leaks of this kind have been stopped by putting a sail below the ship's bottom." "I know it, boy, I know it; but we could never get a sail down in such a night." "Can nothing be done, then?" "Yes, lad; it's hard to do it, but it must be done; life | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589951 | is more precious than gold--we must heave the cargo overboard. I have invested every farthing I have in the world in this venture," continued Captain Bunting, sadly, "but there's no help for it. Now, you were at the shifting of the cargo when we opened the hatches during the calms off the Brazilian coast, and as you kn... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589952 | of the bales and boxes, I want you to direct the men so as to get it hove out quickly. Luckily, bein' a general cargo, most o' the bales are small and easily handled. Here comes the mate again--well, Mr Williams?" "Up another inch, sir." "Go, Ned, over with it. I'll superintend above; so good-bye to our golden dreams."... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589953 | was a slight tone of bitterness in the captain's voice as he spoke, but it passed away quickly, and the next instant he was on deck encouraging his men to throw the valuable cargo over the side. Bale after bale and box after box were tossed ruthlessly out upon the raging sea until little was left in the ship, save | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589954 | the bulky and less valuable portion of the cargo. Then a cry arose that the leak was discovered! The carpenter had succeeded in partially stopping it with part of a sail, and soon the pumps began to reduce the quantity of water in the hold. At last the leak was gained and effectually stopped, and before daybreak the st... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589955 | to subside. While part of the crew, being relieved from the harassing work at the pumps, busied themselves in repairing damages, Ned went to his cabin to put on dry clothes and take a little rest, of which he stood much in need. Next day the bright sun rose in a cloudless sky, and a gentle breeze now wafted the | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589956 | _Roving Bess_ over the Pacific, whose bosom still heaved deeply from the effects of the recent storm. A sense of fervent thankfulness to God for deliverance filled the heart of our hero as he awoke and beheld the warm sunbeams streaming in at the little window of his cabin. Suddenly he was roused from a deep reverie by... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589957 | of "Land, ho!" on deck. Words cannot convey an adequate idea of the effect of such a shout upon all on board. "Land, ho!" was repeated by every one, as he sprang in dishabille up the hatchway. "Where away?" inquired Captain Bunting. "Right ahead, sir," answered the look-out. "Ay, there it is," said the captain, as Ned,... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589958 | vest, rushed to his side, and gazed eagerly over the bow, "there it is, Ned,-- California, at last! Yonder rise the golden mountains that have so suddenly become the world's magnet; and yonder, too, is the `Golden Gate' of the harbour of San Francisco. Humph! much good it'll do us." Again there was a slight tone of bit... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589959 | captain's voice. "Don't let down your spirits, captain," said Ned, in a cheering tone; "there is still enough of the cargo left to enable us to make a start for the gold-fields. Perhaps we may make more money there than we would have made had we sold the cargo at a large profit by trafficking on the coast." Captain Bun... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589960 | hooked his thumbs into the armholes of his waistcoat, and shook his head. It was evident that he had no faith in gold-digging. Meanwhile the crew had assembled on the forecastle, and were looking out ahead with wistful and excited glances; for the fame of the golden land to which they were approaching had spread far an... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589961 | longed to see the gold-dust and nuggets with their own eyes. "It's a beautiful land, intirely," exclaimed Larry O'Neil, with an irrepressible shout of enthusiasm, which called forth a general cheer from the men. "Arrah, now," remarked another Patlander, "don't ye wish ye wos up to the knees and elbows in the goolden sa... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589962 | pay to have wan day at the diggin's." "I don't believe a word about it--I don't," remarked Jones, with the dogged air of a man who shouldn't, wouldn't, and didn't believe, and yet felt, somehow, that he couldn't help it. "Nother do I," said another, "It's all a sham; come, now, ain't it, Bill?" he added, turning to a b... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589963 | veteran who had visited California two years before. "A sham!" exclaimed Bill. "I tell 'e wot it is, messmate, when you comes for to see the miners in San Francisco drinkin' _sham_pain like water, an' payin' a dollar for a glass o' six-water grog, you'll--" "How much is a dollar?" inquired a soft-looking youth, interru... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589964 | "'bout four shillin's," and turned away with a look of contempt at such a display of ignorance. "_Four shillin's_!" exclaimed the soft youth, in amazement. "Clear the anchor, and clew up the main-topsail," shouted the mate. In another moment the crew were scattered, some aloft to "lay out" on the topsail yard, some to ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589965 | the anchor, which latter had not been disturbed since the _Roving Bess_ left the shores of Old England. CHAPTER SIX. SAN FRANCISCO--AN UNEXPECTED DESERTION--CAPTAIN BUNTING TAKES A GLOOMY VIEW OF THINGS IN GENERAL--NEW FRIENDS AND NEW PLANS--SINGULAR FACTS AND CURIOUS FANCIES. The "Golden Gates," as they are called, of... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589966 | form the entrance to one of the finest harbours, or rather land-locked seas, in the world. This harbour is upwards of forty miles long, by about twelve miles broad at its widest point, and receives at its northern end the waters of the noble Sacramento river, into which all the other rivers in California flow. Nearly o... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589967 | of the Sacramento, on the southern shores of the bay, stands the famous city of San Francisco, close to which the _Roving Bess_ let go her anchor and clasped the golden strand. The old adage that, "truth is strange, stranger than fiction," was never more forcibly verified than in the growth and career of this wonderful... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589968 | Arabian romance ever surpassed the inconceivable wonders that were matters of every-day occurrence there during the first years of the gold-fever; and many of the results attributed to Aladdin's wonderful lamp were almost literally accomplished--in some cases actually surpassed--in and around the cities of California. ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589969 | few rude cottages, built of sun-dried bricks, which were tenanted by native Californians; there were also a few merchants who trafficked in hides and horns. Cruisers and whalers occasionally put into the harbour to obtain fresh supplies of water, but beyond these and the vessels engaged in the hide-trade few ships ever... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589970 | Francisco was almost unknown. But the instant the rumour got abroad that gold had been discovered there, the eyes of the world were turned towards it. In a few months men and ships began to pour into the capacious harbour; a city of tents overspread the sand-hills on which the hamlet stood; thousands upon thousands of ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589971 | mines; the golden treasures of the land were laid bare, and immense fortunes were made, literally in the course of a few weeks. In many cases these were squandered or gambled away almost as soon as made; but hundreds of men retired from the gold-fields after a few months' labour, and returned home possessed of ample fo... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589972 | from physical inability to stand the fatiguing labour of the mines, and some from what they termed "want of luck," though want of perseverance was, in nine cases out of ten, the real cause; while many hundreds perished from exposure and from the diseases that were prevalent in the country. Well would it have been for t... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589973 | remembered God's word, "Make not haste to be rich;" but the thirst for gold, and the prospect of the sudden acquisition of enormous wealth, had blinded them to the fact that their frames were not equal to the rough life at the mines. The excitement was at its height when the _Roving Bess_ anchored off the shores of thi... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589974 | of gold. The sun was just setting as the anchor dropped, and the crippled ship swung round towards the shore, for the tide had just begun to rise. "Faix, it's a quare town," said Larry O'Neil to Ned, who was gazing in wrapt, astonishment and admiration ever the stern. It was indeed "quare." The entire city was made up ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589975 | the most flimsy and make-shift materials that can be conceived. Many of the shops were mere tents with an open framework of wood in front; some were made of sheet-iron nailed to wooden posts; some were made of zinc; others, (imported from the States), of wood, painted white, and edged with green; a few were built of su... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589976 | fewer of corrugated iron, and many of all these materials pieced together in a sort of fancy patchwork. Even boats were used as dwellings, turned keel up, with a hole cut in their sides for the egress of a tin smoke-pipe, and two others of larger size to serve as door and window. Finding space scarce, owing to the abru... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589977 | rise of the hills from the shore, many enterprising individuals had encroached upon the sea, and built houses on piles driven into the sand nearly half-a-mile below the original high water mark. Almost every nation under the sun had representatives there, and the consequent confusion of tongues was equal to that of Bab... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589978 | the town were also well covered with tents, temporary houses, and cottages that had some appearance of comfort about them. Such was the city on which the sun went down that night, and many were the quaint, sagacious, and comic remarks made by the men as they sat round their various mess-tables in the forecastle of the ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589979 | noisily and half-seriously on the possibility of getting a run into the interior for a day or two. But there was a party of men in the ship whose conversation that night was neither so light-hearted nor so loud. They sat in a dark corner of the forecastle talking earnestly in subdued tones after the watch for the night... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589980 | set. Their chief spokesman was a rough, ill-looking fellow, named Elliot. "Ye see, lads," said this man to the half-dozen comrades around him, "we must do it to-night, if we're to do it at all. There's the captain's small boat layin' out astarn, which comes quite handy, an', as we lose all our pay by the dodge, I don't... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589981 | why we shouldn't take it." The man struck his fist into his left palm, and looked round the circle for opinions. "I don't half like it," said one; "it seems to me a sneaking way of doin' it." "Bah!" ejaculated another, "wot gammon you do talk. If _he_ lose the boat, don't _we_ lose the tin? Besides, are we agoin' | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589982 | to let sich a trifle stand in the way o' us an' our fortins?" "Have ye spoken to the other men, Elliot?" inquired one of the group. "Ay, in coorse I have; an' they're all agreeable. Young Spense stood out pretty stiff at first; but I talked him over. Only I said nothing to Larry O'Neil or Bill Jones. I | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589983 | know it's of no use. They'll never agree; and if we wos to speak of it to either on 'em, he'd go right away aft an' tell the captain. Their watch below 'll come on in an hour, an' then the watch on deck'll be on our side. So, lads, go and git ready-- an' sharp's the word." The party | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589984 | broke up, and went quietly below to prepare for flight, leaving no one on deck except O'Neil and Jones, and two of their comrades, who formed part of the watch. As Elliot had said, the watch was changed in about an hour. The mate and captain came on deck, looked round to see that all was right, and then returned | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589985 | to the cabin, to consult about the preliminary arrangements for disposing of the remnant of the cargo. Ned Sinton had turned in to have a good sleep before the expected toil and bustle of the following day; O'Neil and Jones, being relieved from duty, were glad to jump into their hammocks; and the deck was left in charg... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589986 | conspirators. It was a clear, lovely night. Not a zephyr stirred the surface of the sea, in whose depths the starry host and the images of a hundred ships of all shapes and tonnage were faithfully mirrored. Bright lights illumined the city, those in the tents giving to them the appearance of cones and cubes of solid fi... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589987 | din of thousands of human voices floated over the water, and mingled with the occasional shout or song that rose from the fleet and the splash of oars, as boats passed to and from the shore. Over all, the young moon shed a pale, soft light, threw into deep shadow the hills towards the north, which rose abruptly to a | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589988 | height of feet, and tipped with a silver edge the peak of Monte Diavolo, whose lofty summit overlooks all the golden land between the great range of the Sierra Nevada and the ocean. It was a scene of peaceful beauty, well fitted to call forth the adoration of man to the great and good Creator. Doubtless there were some... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589989 | hearts rose that night above the sordid thoughts of gain and gold; but few such were recognisable by their fellow-men, compared with the numerous votaries of sin and so-called pleasure. Towards midnight, Captain Bunting turned in, ordering the steward to call him at daybreak; and shortly afterwards the mate retired, ha... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589990 | A few minutes after, Elliot and his comrades appeared on deck, with their boots and small bundles in their hands. "Is all right?" whispered Elliot. "All right!" replied one of the watch. Nothing more was said; the boat was hauled softly alongside, and held firmly there while two men descended and muffled the oars; then... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589991 | slid down the side, and a bag of biscuit and a junk of beef were lowered into it by the second mate, who was one of the conspirators. At that moment the first mate came on deck, and went forward to inquire what was wrong. "It's something in the boat, sir," replied the second mate. The mate looked over the | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589992 | side, and the sailors felt that they must be discovered, and that their plans were about to be frustrated. But the second mate was a man of decision. He suddenly seized Williams round the neck, and, covering his mouth with his hand, held him as if in a vice until he was secured and gagged. "Shall we leave him!" whisper... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589993 | inquired one of the men. "No, he'd manage to kick up a row; take him with us." The helpless mate was immediately passed over the side, the rope was cast off; and the boat floated softly away. At first, the oars were dipped so lightly that no sound was heard, even by those on board, except the drops of brine | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589994 | that trickled from the blades as they rose from the water; then, as the distance increased, the strokes were given more vigorously, and, at last, the men bent to it "with a will;" and they were soon shooting over the vast bay in the direction of the Sacramento river, up which they meant to proceed to the "diggings." Wi... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589995 | exception of O'Neil and Jones, who had already reached the diggings in their dreams, the whole crew, sixteen in all, levanted, leaving Captain Bunting to navigate the ship back to Old England as he best might. It is easier to conceive than to describe the feelings of the captain, when, on the following morning, he disc... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589996 | fled. He stamped, and danced, and tugged his hair, and pursed up his lips so tight that nothing but an occasional splutter escaped them! Then he sat down on the cabin skylight, looked steadily at Ned, who came hurriedly on deck in his shirt and drawers to see what was wrong, and burst into a prolonged fit of laughter. ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589997 | captain! what's up!" "Nothin', lad, ha! ha! Oh yes, human flesh is up, Ned; sailors is riz, an' we've been sold;--we have--uncommon!" Hereupon the captain roared again; but there was a slight peculiarity in the tone, that indicated a strong infusion of rage with the seeming merriment. "They're all gone--every man, Jack... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589998 | as he stood looking at the captain. "So they are, the blackguards; an' that without biddin' us good mornin', bad luck to them," added O'Neil. At first, Ned Sinton felt little disposed to take a comic view of the affair, and urged the captain strongly to take the lightest boat and set off in pursuit; but the latter obje... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589999 | this. "It's of no use," he said, "the ship can't be repaired here without heavy expense; so, as I don't mean to go to sea again for some time, the desertion of the men matters little after all." "Not go to sea again!" exclaimed Ned, in surprise. "What, then, do you mean to do?" "That's more than I can tell. | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
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