Vailima Letters by Robert Louis Stevenson
page 43 of 311 (13%)
page 43 of 311 (13%)
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hurricane season besides, and hurricane waters. Well, our
chief engineer got the shaft - it was the middle crank shaft - mended; thrice it was mended, and twice broke down; but now keeps up - only we dare not stop, for it is almost impossible to start again. The captain in the meanwhile crowded her with sail; fifteen sails in all, every stay being gratified with a stay-sail, a boat-boom sent aloft for a maintop- gallant yard, and the derrick of a crane brought in service as bowsprit. All the time we have had a fine, fair wind and a smooth sea; to-day at noon our run was 203 miles (if you please!), and we are within some 360 miles of Sydney. Probably there has never been a more gallant success; and I can say honestly it was well worked for. No flurry, no high words, no long faces; only hard work and honest thought; a pleasant, manly business to be present at. All the chances were we might have been six weeks - ay, or three months at sea - or never turned up at all, and now it looks as though we should reach our destination some five days too late. CHAPTER V [ON BOARD SHIP BETWEEN SYDNEY AND APIA, FEB. 1891.] MY DEAR COLVIN, - The JANET NICOLL stuff was rather worse |
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