Odd neighbours, by the author of 'Lord Lynn's wife'., Volume 1 |
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Alice answered arrived asked Bird of Freedom blood bridle bull bull-fight cap'en Cape Rouge captain château child clear grit Coffin colonel Cossacks count countess cried Croft crowd dark dear desert doctor door dress Druce Emile English eyes face father fellow felt fire forecastle French gentlemen George Walford glance Glittstein Grand Gulf grey Grindrod hand hastily Hausermann head heard Heckler Henri Henri home honour hope horse hoss hurried Ignatius Indians Jones journey Kirby knew knout laugh looked Malaga marquis Marum matador mate mister monsieur Mormons never Oginski once peasants Petersburg Poland Polish poor portmanteau prairie red cape rider roll round Russian saddle seemed servant Seth Shem Shem's Shoshonies Siberia skulkers smile Spalding spoke stood sure Thomas Chatterton thought thousand reals tion told Tonot took trees Vauxmesnil voice Warsaw Wilna words young
Popular passages
Page 286 - I fell asleep as soon as my head touched the pillow, but my dreams were troubled and painfully vivid. The old Princess Sobieski, transformed into a malignant fairy, hovered incessantly around my couch, waving her ivory-handled crutch-stick...
Page 81 - Coffin, and the Admirable Crichton of a skipper whose praises he had so loyally sounded, and I resolved to be as good as my word, and to pay him a call. I found that the ship had dropped down, and was lying off Long Island. Hiring a pleasure pinnace, I made the short voyage to her anchoring-ground, and found reason to admit that the mate's eulogy had not been much overstrained. The Bird of Freedom was a magnificent vessel, nearly new, and of immense tonnage. She was one of those long, sharp-bowed,...
Page 104 - ... provocation the shooting and hacking would have been resorted to freely. Yet many of the men were content and cheerful. The provisions were excellent, and liberally furnished ; check shirts and sea frocks were supplied freely against wages ; and the grog was good. It was only when fresh from punishment that, the more thoughtless were out of spirits. But there were those to whom the discipline was unbearable, and the captain as much an object of dread as if he had been really a demon. The mates...
Page 81 - By this time we were alongside, and a rough head, crowned by a Spanish straw hat, was popped over the bulwarks, while a harsh voice swore at us, and asked what we wanted, that we scraped our boat's snout against their keelson? I answered from the stern-sheets, taking off my hat, " We were merely admiring your fine vessel, but may I ask whether you have on board a gentleman who invited me to pay you a visit, I mean Mr. Daniel Coffin?" The second mate, who was our questioner, acknowledged my salute...
Page 106 - Janeiro to obtain a fresh supply. He was very unwilling. He would let no one go ashore, except the American seamen whom he trusted, lest he should lose his white slaves. Those Americans I speak of, were not ill treated ; they were on a different footing from that of the crimped men. With great trouble I succeeded in writing a letter, and bribing, with the few dollars I had about me, a black canoe-man who sold fruit and yams, to carry it secretly ashore. This letter I addressed to the British Consul,...
Page 82 - The larboard one's tarry, and would spile them gloves o' yourn." The boat -was directly at the foot of the starboard side-ladder, and I jumped on board, just in time to meet honest Daniel Coffin, who came bustling aft to welcome me. And, sure enough, Daniel Coffin did appear glad to see me. His mahogany face was as radiant as such a face could be, and the grip he gave my hand was like the pressure of a vice. He did the...
Page 79 - tis an engineer officer from West Point, making tactical sketches. Have you done a little in that line, sir, afore you took to the brush?" I owned that I had worn the Queen's colours, and had sold out, after some years in Sydney and Auckland, to escape the weariness ot colonial quarters, and the tardiness of promotion.
Page 82 - I jumped on board, just ia time to meet honest Daniel Coffin, who came bustling aft to welcome me. And, sure enough, Daniel Coffin did appear glad to see me. His mahogany face was as radiant as such a face could be, and the grip he gave my hand was like the pressure of a vice. He did the honours of the ship, at least of all above decks, making me duly admire the tapering of the masts, the squareness of the yards, the trim neatness which regulated everything.
Page 104 - ¿rst mate for disobedience, but the wounds were slight, and the shots had been designedly aimed at the calf of the leg. But I could have no doubt that on very slender provocation the shooting and hacking would have been resorted to freely. Yet many of the men were content and cheerful. The provisions were excellent, and liberally furnished ; check shirts and sea frocks were supplied freely against wages ; and the grog was good. It was only when fresh from punishment that, the more thoughtless were...
Page 98 - When all but myself had signed, a pen was placed between my fingers, Nathan held my wrist, Mr. Coffin guided my hand, and between them they managed to affix a spluttering signature to the important document. Then we were all sent forward ; libations of grog were served out, petty officers appointed, and the mates came up to teach us our duty. " You air in my watch," said Mr. Dan Coffin, as he very deftly removed the gag, and undid the cord that confined my wrists ; " you air in my watch, and kinder...