In reference to this we may remark in passing that the cable of a floating light is frequently renewed, and that the chafing of the links at the hawse-hole is distributed by the occasional paying out or hauling in of a few yards of chaina process which is styled easing the nip.
Horroo! me hearty, yere as clain as a ladys watch, exclaimed a man of rugged form but pleasant countenance, as he issued from the small doorway of the lantern-house with a bundle of waste in one hand and an oil-can in the other.
This was one of the lamplighters of the light-shipJerry MacGowla man whose whole soul was, so to speak, in that lantern. It was his duty to clip and trim the wicks, and fill the lamps, and polish the reflectors and brasses, and oil the joints and wheels (for this was a revolvingin other words a flashing light), and clean the glasses and windows. As there were nine lights to attend to, and get ready for nightly service, it may be easily understood that the lamplighters duty was no sinecure.
The shout of Jerry recalled the king from his contemplation of things in general to the lantern in particular.
All ready to hoist, Jerry? inquired Mr Welton, going forward.
All ready, sir, exclaimed the man, looking at his handiwork with admiration, and carefully removing a speck of dust that had escaped his notice from one of the plate-glass windows; Ant she a purty thing now?baits the best Ginaiva watch as iver was made. Ye might ait yer supper off her floor and shave in the reflictors.
Thats a fact, Jerry, with no end of oil to your salad too, said Mr Welton, surveying the work of the lamplighter with a critical eye.
True for ye, replied Jerry, an as much cotton waste as ye like without sinful extravagance.
The sun will be down in a few minutes, said the mate, turning round and once more surveying the western horizon.
Jerry admitted that, judging from past experience, there was reason to believe in the probability of that event; and then, being of a poetical temperament, he proceeded to expatiate upon the beauty of the evening, which was calm and serene.
Dye know, sir, he said, gazing towards the shore, between which and the floating light a magnificent fleet of merchantmen lay at anchor waiting for a breezeeach vessel reflected clearly in the water along with the dazzling clouds of gold that towered above the setting sunDye know, sir, I niver sees a sky like that but it minds me o the blissid green hills an purty lakes of owld Ireland, an fills me buzzum wid a sort of inspiration till it feels fit amost to bust.
You should have been a poet, Jerry, observed the mate, in a contemplative tone, as he surveyed the shipping through his telescope.
Just what Ive often thought mesilf, sir, replied Jerry, wiping his forehead with the bunch of wastemany a time Ive said to mesilf, in a thoughtful mood
Wan little knows what dirty cloes
May kiver up a poet;
What fires may burn an flout an skurn,
An no wan iver know it.
Thats splendid, Jerry; but whats the meanin of skurn?
Sorrow wan of me knows, sir, but it conveys the idee somehow; dont it, now?
Im not quite sure that it does, said the mate, walking aft and consulting his chronometer for the last time, after which he put his head down the hatchway and shouted, Up lights! in a deep sonorous voice.
Ay, ay, sir, came the ready response from below, followed by the prompt appearance of the other lamplighter and the four seamen who composed the crew of the vessel Jerry turned on his heel, murmuring, in a tone of pity, that the mate, poor man, had no soul for poethry.
Five of the crew manned the winch; the mate and Jerry went to a block-tackle which was also connected with the lifting apparatus. Then the order to hoist was given, and immediately after, just as the sun went down, the floating light went up,a modest yet all-important luminary of the night. Slowly it rose, for the lantern containing it weighed full half a ton, and caused the hoisting chain and pulleys to groan complainingly. At last it reached its destination at the head of the thick part of the mast, but about ten or fifteen feet beneath the ball. As it neared the top, Jerry sprang up the chain-ladder to connect the lantern with the rod and pinion by means of which, with clockwork beneath, it was made to revolve and flash once every third of a minute.
Simultaneously with the ascent of the Gull light there arose out of the sea three bright stars on the nor-eastern horizon, and another star in the south-west. The first were the three fixed lights of the lightship that marked the North sandhead; the latter was the fixed light that guarded the South sandhead. The Goodwin sentinels were now placed for the night, and the commerce of the world might come and go, and pass those dreaded shoals, in absolute security.
Ere long the lights of the shipping in the Downs were hung out, and one by one the lamps on shore shone forththose which marked the entrance of Ramsgate harbour being conspicuous for colour and brilliancyuntil the water, which was so calm as to reflect them all, seemed alive with perpendicular streams of liquid fire; land and sea appearing to be the subjects of one grand illumination. A much less poetical soul than that of the enthusiastic lamp-lighter might have felt a touch of unwonted inspiration on such a night, and in such a scene. The effect on the mind was irresistibly tranquillising. While contemplating the multitudes of vessels that lay idle and almost motionless on the glassy water, the thought naturally arose that each black hull en-shrouded human beings who were gradually sinking into restrelaxing after the energies of the past daywhile the sable cloak of night descended, slowly and soothingly, as if God were spreading His hand gently over all to allay the fever of mans busy day-life and calm him into needful rest.
The watch of the floating light having been set, namely, two men to perambulate the decka strict watch being kept on board night and daythe rest of the crew went below to resume work, amuse themselves, or turn in as they felt inclined.
While they were thus engaged, and darkness was deepening on the scene, Welton stood on the quarterdeck observing a small sloop that floated slowly towards the lightship. Her sails were indeed set, but no breath of wind bulged them out; her onward progress was caused by the tide, which had by that time begun to set with a strong current to the northward. When within about a cables length, the rattle of her chain told that the anchor had been let go. A few minutes later, a boat was seen to push off from the sloop and make for the lightship. Two men rowed it and a third steered. Owing to the force of the current they made the vessel with some difficulty.
Heave us a rope, cried one of the men, as they brushed past.
No visitors allowed aboard, replied Mr Welton sternly; catching up, nevertheless, a coil of rope.
Hallo! father, surely youve become very unhospitable, exclaimed another voice from the boat.
Why, Jim, is that you, my son? cried the mate, as he flung the coil over the side.
The boatmen caught it, and next moment Jim stood on the decka tall strapping young seaman of twenty or thereaboutsa second edition of his father, but more active and lithe in his motions.
Why you creep up to us, Jim, like a thief in the night. What brings you here, lad, at such an hour? asked Mr Welton, senior, as he shook hands with his son.
Ive come to have a talk with ee, father. As to creeping like a thief, a man must creep with the tide when theres no wind, dye see, if he dont come to an anchor. Tis said that time and tide wait for no man; that bein so, I have come to see you now that Ive got the chance. Thats where it is. But I cant stay long, for old Jones will