United States or Marshall Islands ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
"No, she steers quite as well without it," replied the mate. "We'll leave it. And now, lads, hand the oars in." They were brought to the boat, but owing to the puncheon of rum in the centre, they could not lie flat, and after a good deal of arguing and disputing, four oars and a boat-hook were lashed to the gunnel outside, and the rest were left on the rocks.
"No, not he; but just run a boat-hook into him, and try and drive him away, for he's drawing five shillings' worth of oil out of the fish every mouthful he takes, the glutton," said David. I did as I was desired; but though the point ran right into his body, he only shifted his post a little, and made a fresh attack directly under the stern of the boat.
As he fell backward he collided with the professor and the two sprawled on the deck with the professor howling louder than ever. "No wonder they're hurt," shouted Ben Stubbs, coming up with a long boat-hook, "that's an electric ray." "An electric what?" asked Billy. "An electric ray. They carry enough electricity in them to run a small lamp, and when they wish they can give you a powerful shock.
When they attempted to hold it with the boat-hook, it eluded the touch, turning round and round, or bobbing under the water, and coming up again, as if in sport: but accident saved them any further trouble; for the bowman, reproached by the boat's crew for not hooking the body, got angry, and darting the spike of the boat-hook into the abdomen, the pent-up gas escaped with a loud whiz, and the corpse instantly sank like a stone.
The sheriff paddled the skiff out from the shore in the direction of Seal Island. The water was clear, and they could see the bottom, which they examined very carefully as they proceeded. "I see it," suddenly exclaimed Hasbrook, as he grasped the boat-hook. "Lay hold of it," added the sheriff. "I knew I was right." "I have it."
Bigley gave vent to a sigh of satisfaction, for he had been in a terrible fidget, telling me over and over again that he was sure the boat-hook which served as a buoy had been washed away, and totally forgetting that the cluster of rocks known as the Goat and Kids were so familiar to the fishermen about that the spot could easily have been found again. However there we were.
I heard the boatswain utter a low fierce growl as he crept forward, and I followed to try and help, for the injured man had sunk upon his knees, with the boat-hook across the bows, and began to wipe the perspiration from his forehead. "Much hurt, my lad?" cried Mr Grey. "Tidy, sir, tidy; makes one feel a bit sicky-like. Any one like to have the next turn with the boat-hook?
Thither we rowed, and after a little complicated manoeuvring landed suddenly, Simpson, who was standing in the bows with the boat-hook, being easily the first to reach the shore. He got up quickly, however, apologized, and helped the ladies and the hampers out. Thereafter he was busy for some time, making the dinghy fast with a knot peculiarly his own.
But he seldom, if ever, spoke to me inside of the hospital; it was always when I was at the steps minding my vocation, where he would come down and lean over the rail at the top of the wharf. He made and gave me a boat-hook, which I found very convenient.
After all, the creatures did not show too much cunning; for the presence of this pretended place of deposit told the Malay that a real one would not be far off; and, sure enough, another was soon after discovered, which, on being sounded by the iron point of the boat-hook, gave back a firm feel and a sharp metallic click, that told him there were eggs underneath.
Word Of The Day