United States or Namibia ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
In the midst of my chagrin, I felt myself lifted in the strong arms of "Waters," who, after carrying me across the staging-plank, and some yards over the wharf, deposited me upon the pavement, and thus addressed me: "Now, my little sprat! take Jack Waters's advice, and keep out o' salt-water as long as you can, else the sharks may get hold on you."
Ten minutes of these sights and sounds, and again was heard the ringing of the large bell the signal that the boat was about to continue her course. I had flung myself into a chair that stood beside one of the awning-posts, and close to the guards. From my position I commanded a view of the gangway, the staging-plank, and the contiguous wharf-boat, which I had just left.
The last bell rings the "can't-get-away" folks rush ashore the staging-plank is drawn in some heedless wight has to jump for it the cable is pulled aboard and coiled the engineer's bell tinkles the great wheels revolve, lashing the brown water into foam the steam "whistles" and screams at the boilers, and booms from the 'scape-pipe in regular repetitions neighbouring boats are pressed out of their places their planks cringe and crackle guards are broken, or the slight timbers of wheel-houses, causing a cross-fire of curses between the crews and after some minutes of this pandemoniac confusion, the huge craft clears herself, and rides out upon the broad bosom of the river.
Word Of The Day