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Article THE FIRST CRUISE OF THE " VIXEN." ← Page 19 of 23 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The First Cruise Of The " Vixen."
invention for an excuse . He promised an excellent one , and I xvas satisfied . At nine o ' clock on the folloxving morning Ave were aboard the Vixen , and by midday Ave had got clear of the Tagus . It xvas on that same evening , abreast of Cape St . Alnccnt , that xve judged it necessary to impart our xiews to the crexv . After
communicating with Darcy ancl Fin , and receiving then * hearty adherence , the men were called aft . They had heard most of the particulars at Lisbon , but Tom , who nex'er lost an opportunity of making a speech , gave them the yarn xxith great eloquence . As he proceeded , I Avatcbed the faces of my crexx * , ancl saAA ' , with satisfaction , that they were ripening towards my object . A few
muttered curses and threats rewarded Tom as he concluded , but I shall neA'er forget the gaze of astonishment Avith which they hailed my proposal , AA'hich he left me to make in person . AVhen I had finished , Natty asked to xxithdraw and consult a bit ; I consented , and they retired to the fore-deck . In five minutes they returned , ancl Mr . Boom , as spokesman , gave in their resolution to stand by the yacht to the last splinter . In an hour
every man was preparing for the dangerous sendee upon AA'hich he had volunteered . Tom ordered an inspection of our arms . AVe found that Ave had six brass guns , carrying six-pound balls , txventy cutlasses , four rifles , a stand of twenty muskets , eight pair of pistols , ancl six revolvers . AVith such an arsenal each man might be armed to the teeth . Our poxvder was loose , so
three of the men Avere set to manufacturing musket ancl pistol cartridges , Ax'hile , as it xx * as found that tlie cutlasses xvere quite new and unground , Masinissa was established beside a guncarriage , with a whetstone , grinding the xveapons . Fin occupied himself in making hand-grenades . The conduct of the expedition devolved upon Tom , and I must confess I began to look xxith
desperate anxiety upon his progress . On the third clay xve had arrived within sight of Mogador , we were noxv almost close to the scene of our attempt . Mr . Boom ancl Tom had been engaged for hours over a chart of the coast , ancl at last they seemed to have arrived at tlieir object . The signs of the xveather xvere consulted , and on the afternoon of the folloxving day the helm was suddenly put up , ancl ere sundoxvn xve xvere witliin two miles of the shore , creeping lazily along .
Mr . Boom was sweeping the coast with his glass , AA'hen , suddenly , he handed it to Tom , ancl directed his attention to a dark spot in the landscape , about fifteen or tAventy miles a head . Tom examined it carefully , and it Avas decided that our destination xvas at hand . It xvas a moonlight night as we dropped our anchor off tlie mouth of the river : the men were ordered below .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The First Cruise Of The " Vixen."
invention for an excuse . He promised an excellent one , and I xvas satisfied . At nine o ' clock on the folloxving morning Ave were aboard the Vixen , and by midday Ave had got clear of the Tagus . It xvas on that same evening , abreast of Cape St . Alnccnt , that xve judged it necessary to impart our xiews to the crexv . After
communicating with Darcy ancl Fin , and receiving then * hearty adherence , the men were called aft . They had heard most of the particulars at Lisbon , but Tom , who nex'er lost an opportunity of making a speech , gave them the yarn xxith great eloquence . As he proceeded , I Avatcbed the faces of my crexx * , ancl saAA ' , with satisfaction , that they were ripening towards my object . A few
muttered curses and threats rewarded Tom as he concluded , but I shall neA'er forget the gaze of astonishment Avith which they hailed my proposal , AA'hich he left me to make in person . AVhen I had finished , Natty asked to xxithdraw and consult a bit ; I consented , and they retired to the fore-deck . In five minutes they returned , ancl Mr . Boom , as spokesman , gave in their resolution to stand by the yacht to the last splinter . In an hour
every man was preparing for the dangerous sendee upon AA'hich he had volunteered . Tom ordered an inspection of our arms . AVe found that Ave had six brass guns , carrying six-pound balls , txventy cutlasses , four rifles , a stand of twenty muskets , eight pair of pistols , ancl six revolvers . AVith such an arsenal each man might be armed to the teeth . Our poxvder was loose , so
three of the men Avere set to manufacturing musket ancl pistol cartridges , Ax'hile , as it xx * as found that tlie cutlasses xvere quite new and unground , Masinissa was established beside a guncarriage , with a whetstone , grinding the xveapons . Fin occupied himself in making hand-grenades . The conduct of the expedition devolved upon Tom , and I must confess I began to look xxith
desperate anxiety upon his progress . On the third clay xve had arrived within sight of Mogador , we were noxv almost close to the scene of our attempt . Mr . Boom ancl Tom had been engaged for hours over a chart of the coast , ancl at last they seemed to have arrived at tlieir object . The signs of the xveather xvere consulted , and on the afternoon of the folloxving day the helm was suddenly put up , ancl ere sundoxvn xve xvere witliin two miles of the shore , creeping lazily along .
Mr . Boom was sweeping the coast with his glass , AA'hen , suddenly , he handed it to Tom , ancl directed his attention to a dark spot in the landscape , about fifteen or tAventy miles a head . Tom examined it carefully , and it Avas decided that our destination xvas at hand . It xvas a moonlight night as we dropped our anchor off tlie mouth of the river : the men were ordered below .