It was a bright, beautiful, warm day when our ship spread her canvas to the breeze and sailed for theregions of the south. Oh, how my heart bounded with delight as I listened to the merry chorus ofthe sailors while they hauled at the ropes and got in the anchor! The captain shouted; the men ran toobey; the noble ship bent over to the breeze, and the shore gradually faded from my view; while Istood looking on, with a kind of feeling that the whole was a delightful dream.The first thing that struck me as being different from ...
Read More
It was a bright, beautiful, warm day when our ship spread her canvas to the breeze and sailed for theregions of the south. Oh, how my heart bounded with delight as I listened to the merry chorus ofthe sailors while they hauled at the ropes and got in the anchor! The captain shouted; the men ran toobey; the noble ship bent over to the breeze, and the shore gradually faded from my view; while Istood looking on, with a kind of feeling that the whole was a delightful dream.The first thing that struck me as being different from anything I had yet seen during my short careeron the sea, was the hoisting of the anchor on deck and lashing it firmly down with ropes, as if wehad now bid adieu to the land for ever and would require its services no more."There, lass!" cried a broad-shouldered jack-tar, giving the fluke of the anchor a hearty slap with hishand after the housing was completed-"there, lass, take a good nap now, for we sha'n't ask you tokiss the mud again for many a long day to come!"And so it was. That anchor did not "kiss the mud" for many long days afterwards; and when at lastit did, it was for the last time!There were a number of boys in the ship, but two of them were my special favourites. Jack Martinwas a tall, strapping, broad-shouldered youth of eighteen, with a handsome, good-humoured, firmface. He had had a good education, was clever and hearty and lion-like in his actions, but mild andquiet in disposition. Jack was a general favourite, and had a peculiar fondness for me. My othercompanion was Peterkin Gay. He was little, quick, funny, decidedly mischievous, and about fourteenyears old. But Peterkin's mischief was almost always harmless, else he could not have been so muchbeloved as he was."Hallo, youngster!" cried Jack Martin, giving me a slap on the shoulder the day I joined the ship,"come below and I'll show you your berth. You and I are to be messmates; and I think we shall begood friends, for I like the look o' you."
Read Less
Add this copy of Coral Island to cart. $160.95, good condition, Sold by Bonita rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Newport Coast, CA, UNITED STATES, published 1979 by Better Books Co.
Loved this book so much as a child that when i grew i got some common sense and got me a job in the south pacific and lived on a Coral Atoll for 20 years. Have to get myself another copy.
