The Adventures of Peregrine PickleSmollett, T. (Tobias)
General
The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle
Smollett, T. (Tobias)
Adventure stories; Fiction; Picaresque literature
It being low water when they arrived on the French coast, the vessel
could not enter the harbour, and they were obliged to bring to, and
wait for a boat, which in less than half-an-hour came alongside from the
shore. Mr. Jolter now came upon deck, and, snuffing up the French air
with symptoms of infinite satisfaction, asked of the boatmen, with the
friendly appellation of Mes enfants, what they demanded for transporting
him and his pupil with their baggage to the pier. But how was he
disconcerted, when those polite, candid, reasonable watermen demanded
a louis d'or for that service! Peregrine, with a sarcastic sneer,
observed, that he already began to perceive the justice of his encomiums
on the French; and the disappointed governor could say nothing in his
own vindication, but that they were debauched by their intercourse with
the inhabitants of Dover. His pupil, however, was so much offended at
their extortion, that he absolutely refused to employ them, even when
they abated one half in their demand, and swore he would stay on
board till the packet should be able to enter the harbour, rather than
encourage such imposition.
The master, who in all probability had some sort of fellow-feeling with
the boatmen, in vain represented that he could not with safety lie-to
or anchor upon a lee-shore: our hero, having consulted Pipes, answered,
that he had hired his vessel to transport him to Calais, and that he
would oblige him to perform what he had undertaken. The skipper, very
much mortified at this peremptory reply, which was not over and above
agreeable to Mr. Jolter, dismissed the boat, notwithstanding the
solicitations and condescension of the watermen. Running a little
farther in shore, they came to an anchor, and waited till there was
water enough to float them over the bar. Then they stood into the
harbour; and our gentleman, with his attendants and baggage, were
landed on the pier by the sailors, whom he liberally rewarded for their
trouble.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account