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Updated: May 27, 2025
The crew of the mistico, now that they felt pretty certain of not being captured, cheered and laughed, and called out to them, using every device to enrage them, and induce them to follow. "We must soon be about ship, Duff!" Tompion sang out from his boat; "and I am afraid, after all, we have done little good."
"I think the boats have got the captain, and the rest of them, on board, by the way they pull," shouted Linton, to Tompion, who commanded the cutter. "Tackle them first, and we may pay the other rascals off afterwards. Huzza, my men give way, or they will be into their den before we can get alongside them." "The mistico has tacked," shouted Tompion, in return. "Shall I fire into her?"
Now, although Tompion fancied that all their exertions would be thrown away, he was not aware, as the reader possibly is, that they were of the very greatest service to their friends on shore.
My first glance was aft, and I must confess that I was as surprised as I was pleased to see that Tompion and the helmsman were still on board, and that the wheel was intact. The bulwarks, however, excepting some ten feet or so on each quarter, were gone throughout the whole length of the ship, so far as I could see.
So devoted were he and Tompion and so closely linked was their work that when Graham died, the grave of Tompion was opened in order that the two men might be buried together. Then a stone was made reading: Here lies the body of Mr. Tho. Tompion who departed this life the 20th of November 1713 in the 75th year of his age.
As a consequence the wardroom officers swore by him, and so did Mr. Tompion, the gunner, and Mr. Slice, the artificer engineer. The ship's company were of the same opinion, so the little Puffin was what is generally known as a "happy ship."
He had almost resolved to send Tompion in the second gig to ascertain this, when he heard the splash of oars in the water, and his doubts were soon after relieved by the return of Captain Fleetwood. "I have kept you some time, gentlemen," said the captain. "But I have gained some important information to guide our proceedings. Now give way and follow me."
Now, I'm all clear." "Is that Mr Lascelles' voice I hear?" asked somebody who was clinging to the topmast, some twenty feet away. "It is," said I; "who are you?" "I'm Tompion, sir," was the reply. "Very glad to find you among us, Mr Lascelles. I was afraid you were among the missing at first." "No, I am here, all right," said I, "and sound, I think, with the exception of a few bruises.
I directed Tompion to have him taken below, undressed, and placed in a hammock, despatching one of our men, meanwhile, to hunt up the surgeon of the Santa Catalina, and then made my way below to the spot where I had left Don Luis.
Graham was a clever, broadly educated man, who worked out many astronomical instruments in addition to his clockmaking. When you view either his handiwork or that of Tompion, you will see the product of master craftsmen. And in the meantime don't forget Daniel Quare, Samuel Knibb, or Ahasuerus Fromanteel, who although unhonored by stones in the Abbey, are well worthy of being remembered."
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