On the 24th of February, 1810, the look-out at Notre-Dame de la
Garde signalled the three-master, the Pharaon from Smyrna, Trieste,
and Naples.
As usual, a pilot put off immediately, and rounding the Chateau
d'If, got on board the vessel between Cape Morgion and Rion island.
Immediately, and according to custom, the ramparts of Fort
Saint-Jean were covered with spectators; it is always an event at
Marseilles for a ship to come into port, especially when this ship,
like the Pharaon, has been built, rigged, and laden at the old
Phocee docks, and belongs to an owner of the city.
The ship drew on and had safely passed the strait, which some
volcanic shock has made between the Calasareigne and Jaros islands;
had doubled Pomegue, and approached the harbor under topsails, jib,
and spanker, but so slowly and sedately that the idlers, with that
instinct which is the forerunner of evil, asked one another what
misfortune could have happened on board. However, those experienced
in navigation saw plainly that if any accident had occurred, it was
not to the vessel herself, for she bore down with all the evidence
of being skilfully handled, the anchor a-cockbill, the jib-boom
guys already eased off, and standing by the side of the pilot, who
was steering the Pharaon towards the narrow entrance of the inner
port, was a young man, who, with activity and vigilant eye, watched
every motion of the ship, and repeated each direction of the pilot.
The vague disquietude which prevailed among the spectators had so
much affected one of the crowd that he did not await the arrival of
the vessel in harbor, but jumping into a small skiff, desired to be
pulled alongside the Pharaon, which hereached as she rounded into
La Reserve basin.
When the young man on board saw this person approach, he left his
station by the pilot, and, hat in hand, leaned over the ship's
bulwarks.
He was a fine, tall, slim young fellow of eighteen or twenty, with
black eyes, and hair as dark as a raven's wing; and his whole
appearance bespoke that calmness and resolution peculiar to men
accustomed from their cradle to contend with danger.
General
Imprint: |
Ebookslib
|
Country of origin: |
United States |
Release date: |
May 2005 |
Authors: |
Alexandre Dumas
|
Format: |
Electronic book text
|
ISBN-13: |
978-1-4121-4408-7 |
Categories: |
Books >
Fiction >
Genre fiction >
Fantasy
|
LSN: |
1-4121-4408-6 |
Barcode: |
9781412144087 |
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