Dorymates: A Tale of the Fishing BanksMunroe, Kirk
General
Dorymates: A Tale of the Fishing Banks
Munroe, Kirk
Newfoundland and Labrador -- Fiction
After steaming out of the harbor, and rounding Cape Reykjaines, the
_Saga_ skirted the wild southern coast of Iceland, with Mount Hecla in
sight, for nearly a day. Then, turning due south, she was headed for the
Färöe Islands. This rocky group of thirty-five small islands, of which
about twenty are inhabited, belongs to Denmark, and lies half-way
between Iceland and Scotland. It was intended that the Saga should stop
here for a day or two, and remain in the picturesque harbor of
Thorshavn, on Strömöe Island, the largest of the group, while her
passengers explored the surrounding waters and country. Now, on account
of the serious nature of Mr. Whyte Whymper’s injuries, which demanded
skilful medical attention, this plan was abandoned, and the yacht was
urged with all possible speed towards England.
After the Färöes, the Shetland Islands were passed, then the Orkneys,
and a day later the _Saga_ sailed through the channel known as the
Minch, between the Hebrides and the main-land of Scotland. Then down,
past the western islands, through the north channel between Scotland and
Ireland, across the Irish Sea, close to the Isle of Man, and finally,
five days after leaving Reykjavik, she steamed into the mouth of the
Mersey, and came to an anchor off the Liverpool docks.
Here it was decided that the injured man must be at once removed to
London, and although he still made light of his wounds, Lord Seabright
insisted upon accompanying him and seeing that he was properly cared
for. He ordered Mr. Marlin to take the yacht to Queenstown, where he
would try and rejoin him within a day or two.
To Breeze he said, “Of course you will go to Queenstown with the yacht,
McCloud, and if you fail to find your friends, you are to make yourself
as comfortable as you can aboard until I come. Then we shall run around
to Cowes, from which place it will be easy to send your ambergris up to
London and dispose of it.”
Breeze was very grateful for the great kindness shown him by this young
Englishman, and tried to tell him so, but was checked by “Oh, nonsense,
man! Don’t give it a thought. It’s no more than you would do if you were
in my place, and I in yours, and no more than any true sailor would do
for another whom he found in trouble. I should apologize to you for
running off and leaving you in this way, but that you understand the
necessity of the case as well as I.”
By this kindness and politeness to one who was apparently so greatly his
inferior in social station, as well as almost a stranger to him, Lord
Seabright proved himself a thorough gentleman by breeding as well as by
birth; for a true gentleman will treat with equal courtesy all persons
worthy of respect with whom he is thrown in contact.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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