The Book of the Blue Sea |
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Common terms and phrases
Admiral Admiralty adventure afterwards Algésiras anchor ashore attack Barrow Strait Basil batteries battle Beechey Island began Bellot Strait boat brig British broadside Cape Captain Porter captured carried Charles chase coast Collingwood command crew cruising David Farragut deck dogs Edward Pellew enemy enemy's English Esquimaux Essex Essex Junior fight fire flagship fleet Fort Morgan four French friends frigate guns harbour Hardy hope John Franklin killed knew Lancaster Sound Lieutenant Lord Lord Exmouth Lord Nelson M'Clintock masts Medusa Menelaus midshipman miles mizzen-mast morning Navy Nelson never night officers once passed Polyphemus poop port post-captain prize round Royal Sovereign sail sailor seamen sent ship ship's shore shot side sight signal Sir Edward Sir Peter sledge soon squadron starboard Téméraire told took Trafalgar vessels Victory voyage watch wind wounded
Popular passages
Page 251 - God to give me again the opportunity of writing you, and it has also pleased him to give success to our efforts against these hordes of barbarians. I never, however, saw any set of men more obstinate at their guns, and it was superior fire only that could keep them back. To be sure, nothing could stand before the Queen Charlotte's broadside. Everything fell before it ; and the Swedish consul assures me we killed above five hundred at the very first fire, from the crowded way in which troops were...
Page 179 - The divisions of the British Fleet will be brought nearly within gun shot of the Enemy's Centre. The signal will most probably then be made for the Lee Line to bear up together, to set all their sails, even steering sails...
Page 268 - I seized a pistol and went in pursuit of the fellow, but did not find him. " Soon after this, some gun-primers were wanted, and I was sent after them. In going below, while I was on the ward-room ladder, the captain of the gun directly opposite the hatchway was struck full in the face by an eighteen-pound shot, and fell back on me. We tumbled down the hatch together. I struck on my head, and, fortunately, he fell on my hips. I say fortunately, for, as he was a man of at least two hundred pounds'...
Page 121 - Daddy ; and certainly he was as a father to those of us who, like myself, were quite adrift in the ship, without any one to look after them. He was a man of talents and classical education ; but he had entered the Navy far too late in life ever to take to it cordially. His habits, indeed, had become so rigid, that they could never be made to bend to the mortifying kind of discipline which it appears essential every officer should run through, but which only the young and light-hearted can brook....
Page 179 - Enemy's line, and to cut through, beginning from the twelfth Ship from the Enemy's Rear. Some Ships may not get through their exact place, but they will always be at hand to assist their friends...
Page 123 - The matter, therefore, necessarily became rather serious ; and the whole gang of us being sent for on the quarter-deck we were ranged in a line, each with his toes at the edge of a plank, according to the orthodox fashion of these gregarious scoldings, technically called
Page 179 - Enemy wear together, or bear up and sail large, still the twelve Ships composing, in the first position, the Enemy's Rear, are to be the object of attack of the Lee Line, unless otherwise directed...
Page 213 - I trust, my Lord, that on my return to the Victory, which will be as soon as possible, I shall find your Lordship well, and in possession of twenty Prizes.
Page 118 - Many were the execrations hurled upwards at the offending •knobs' who, we thought, were combining to make our lives miserable. Some of our party voted for writing a letter of remonstrance to the Admiral against this unheard-of outrage ; and one youth swore deeply that he would leave the Service, unless justice were obtained. But as he had been known to swear the same thing half a dozen times every day since he joined the ship, no great notice was taken of his pledge.
Page 121 - Shakings, and that be was applied to by us at every stage of the transaction. He was sadly perplexed, of course, when the dog was finally missing ; and, for some days, he could give us no comfort, nor suggest any mode of revenge which was not too dangerous for his young friends to put in practice. He prudently observed, that as we had no certainty to go upon, it would be foolish to get ourselves into a serious scrape for nothing at all. " ' There can be no harm, however...