John Holdsworth Chief Mate By W Clark Russell

Author : William Clark Russell
Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9781545345955
Total Pages : 242 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (459 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Download or read book JOHN HOLDSWORTH by WILLIAM CLARK RUSSELL, LARGE PRINT written by William Clark Russell and published by . This book was released on 2017-04-22 with total page 242 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The "Meteor" was a full-rigged ship of eleven hundred tons, with painted ports and a somewhat low freeboard, which gave her a rakish look. Her figure-head represented a woman, naked to the waist, emerging from a cloud, and was really a sweet piece of carving. She was a ship of the old school, with big stern windows, and a quaint cuddy front and heavy spars. Yet, built after the old-fashioned model, her lines were as clean as those of an Aberdeen clipper.She made a glorious picture, as she lay off Gravesend, the clear summer sky tinting the water of the river a pale blue, and converting it into a mirror for an ideal representation of the graceful vessel. Many boats were clustered about her side, and up and down her canvased gangway went hurrying figures. The ensign was at the peak, and at the fore floated the blue-peter, signal to those who took concern in her that she would be soon under weigh.She was bound to New York, whence she was to carry another cargo south, ultimately touching at Callao before she spread her wings for the old country.There were a few first-class passengers on board, and some of them stood near the gangway in low and earnest talk with friends, while others were on the poop, gazing at the shore with wistful eyes. One of these was a widow, whose husband had been buried a few weeks before in the churchyard of a little Kentish town. She was taking her boy back with her to New York, where her friends were; and there they stood, hand in hand, the child with wondering eyes everywhere, the mother with a fixed gaze upon the land which was consecrated for ever to her heart by the beloved form it held.The river was brilliant and busy with vessels at anchor or passing to and fro, with boats pulling from shore to shore, with the gay sunshine deepening and brightening the colours of flags, or flashing white upon the outstretched canvas, and trembling in silver flakes upon the water. Sailors hung over the forecastle of the "Meteor," bandying jokes full of pathos, or exchanging farewells with wives and sweethearts, or male friends in boats grouped, with outstretched oars, around the bows of the ship. Some of the hands were aloft casting off the yard-arm gaskets, ready to sheet home when the boatswain's pipe should sound. The wind-a light breeze-was north, a soldier's wind that would take them clear of the river, and make a fair passage for them down Channel; and now they were only waiting for the captain to come on board with the pilot to start.By eleven o'clock the ship was to be under weigh; and even as the clear chimes of the clock striking the hour floated across the river from the land, a boat pulled by three men swept alongside, and the captain, followed by the pilot, sprang up the ladder.A tall, broad-shouldered young man stood at the gangway to receive them, and touched his cap as the captain came on board."All ready, Mr. Holdsworth?""All ready, sir.""Man the windlass then.""Ay, ay, sir."He was on the forecastle in a jiffy, and the thunder of his voice went along the deck and brought all hands to the windlass as if a line had pulled each man to his place. The boatswain's pipe shrilled, the pilot's face, coloured like mahogany, took an anxious expression; and then clank! clank! clank! went the windlass, followed in a moment by a hoarse song, which at regular intervals burst into a chorus:-"And when you come to the dockyard gates,Yo, boys, yo!You'll find that Sal for her true love waits,Heave, my bully-boys, heave!Then, heave my boys, oh, heave together!Yo, boys, yo!And get her out o' the stormy weather!Heave, my bully-boys, heave!"Then came such cries as these:-"Sheer off you boats there!""Get the gangway ladder in-board.""Loose the inner jib, one of you!""A hand aft to the wheel!"