Jack at Sea: All Work and No Play Made Him a Dull BoyFenn, George Manville
History
Jack at Sea: All Work and No Play Made Him a Dull Boy
Fenn, George Manville
Adventure stories; Natural history -- Juvenile fiction; Voyages and travels -- Juvenile fiction
The captain then led the way to the cabins, which were thoroughly in
keeping with what had been seen on deck, elegantly decorated and
furnished, and with every inch so contrived that the greatest of
convenience was given in the smallest space. Berths, steward's room,
cook's galley, all were inspected in turn, and then the captain opened a
door with a smile.
"I don't know whether you gentlemen care for sport, but Mr Ensler had
this little magazine fitted up, and it is well furnished."
The contents seemed nothing to Jack; but the doctor and Sir John
exchanged glances of surprise, as they saw on each side the sliding
glass doors in which, in the most perfect order, were ranged double and
single fowling-pieces, rifles from the lightest express to the heaviest
elephant guns, as well as a couple of large bore for wild-fowl shooting
and one with its fittings for discharging shells or harpoons. Lances,
lines, nets, dredges, sounding-lines, patent logs, everything that a
scientific sportsman or naturalist could desire.
"There's a good magazine forward, gentlemen," said the captain, "which I
will show you by and by, with, I should say, an ample supply of
cartridges of all kinds--the best. Cartridge and ball for the big guns,
and many chests of empty brass cases, canisters of powder, and bags of
all-sized shot, and the like, so that I may say the yacht is well found
in that respect."
"But these are Mr Ensler's," said Sir John, who appeared thoroughly
interested, while his son looked on and listened in a careless way.
"Well, yes, sir, his, of course; but they go with the boat."
"At a valuation?" said the doctor.
"Oh no," replied the captain, smiling. "Everything in the yacht--
stores, provisions, extra tackle, spare anchors, cables and sails--and
I'll show you directly, gentlemen, the stores are well worth looking
at--go with the yacht at the price named. I wouldn't be answerable for
the state of some of the tinned provisions, of course, for they've been
on board some time, but they were of the best, and I have had them gone
over, and only found a few cases to condemn."
Sir John said nothing, and the captain led them on, showing them the
store-rooms, the place devoted to provisions, and then the magazine,
which he pointed out as being solidly constructed at the bottom and
sides, but exceedingly light overhead.
"So you see, gentlemen," said Captain Bradleigh, "the powder and
cartridges are so divided, that if there were an explosion it would be a
small one, though of course it would be followed by others; but with the
light construction overhead the force would fly upwards, and there would
be no fear of our going to the bottom."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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