The Mysteries of Montreal: Being Recollections of a Female PhysicianFührer, Ch. (Charlotte)
Science
The Mysteries of Montreal: Being Recollections of a Female Physician
Führer, Ch. (Charlotte)
Montréal (Québec) -- Fiction; Women physicians -- Fiction
As they had had time to take with them a sextant chromometer and
Palinurus, they had no difficulty next day in taking observations, and
found themselves about five hundred miles W.N.W. of Mizen Head. As
it was no use depending on being picked up they made all sail in that
direction, and so rapidly did the strong west wind propel them that
on taking observations the next day they found themselves nearly one
hundred and fifty miles nearer land. It was fortunate that they made
such headway, for they had only one day’s provisions left, and the water
was getting pretty scarce; however, the wind continued favorable, and
in less than three days more, half famished and thoroughly chilled
from exposure, they found themselves at midnight a few miles from the
entrance of Queenstown Harbor.
Furling their sales, they took to the oars with a will and pulled wildly
towards the landing-place, where they were pleased to hear voices in
conversation. Just then a long whistle was heard from shore, and a husky
voice half whispered, “Boat ahoy!” “Aye, aye,” was the glad response
as the shipwrecked men threw the painter to the owner of the voice,
and taking their arms and instruments, bounded on shore. Imagine their
surprise to find themselves surrounded, their muskets knocked from their
hands, and the latter speedily encircled with a pair of manacles. The
Captain of the Brig tried to remonstrate with the commander of the
party, but a navy revolver was pointed at his head, and he was forbidden
to utter a word. Finding resistance and remonstrance altogether out
of the question, the unfortunate men marched on silently as directed,
mentally endeavoring to explain this sample of Irish hospitality, and
confident that there must be a mistake somewhere, but of the precise
nature of that error they had not the faintest idea.
Arrived at the gaol, they were severally incarcerated and their
handcuffs taken off. Then, as they signified that they were hungry, they
were liberally supplied with buttermilk and oatmeal porridge, which many
of them thought the best and most sensible part of the whole proceeding.
As it was past midnight, and they were all nearly exhausted they allowed
their curiosity to wait till the morrow, and, without any questioning
or speculation, fell fast asleep, most of them remaining quiescent unfed
late the following afternoon. When they awoke they found a warm meal
awaiting them, but no reply as to the reason for their detention could
be got out of the turnkey, who seemed to think their question one of the
greatest jokes ever perpetrated within the precincts of that edifice. At
last Fairfield summoned the turnkey. There was something commanding
in his tone which bade the gaoler treat him with respect, and to his
enquiry as to whether he could see a lawyer the man replied that he
could send for one immediately, but would vouchsafe no information.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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