Less Black Than We're Painted Volume 1 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1878 Excerpt: ...name and business. 'I am Richard Talbot, of Talbot Tower, and I wish to see the new revolving light.' 'And the other one--who's she?' inquired the man, who was a good-natured, humorous fellow. 'She is a young lady--un--under my protection/ explained Dick, thinking justly that the disclosure of her relationship to Mr. George Parkes would not forward his views with any constituted authority. 'Well, you must get an order from the Trinity House to admit two before you can see our light.' 'That's a lie ' cried Dick; ' other people have seen it without orders. You had better show it us, my man.' 'And suppose I don't, what then?' 'Well, I shall shy stones at the lantern till I see it lit up.' To this ultimatum the garrison surrendered with smothered mirth., 'You may come in, young master, but the place to see our light is out at sea. It don't show inland, so you might have spent all night in battering on us, and nothing would have come of it.' Never since the days of the Lion Heart did an adventure so chivalrously undertaken have so ineffectual a result. VOL. L 13 However, they were shown the wicks and the reflectors. 'And is it possible, ' asked the genius of the lamp, 'that you two young people have come all the way round by Swanborough at this hour o' night?' For though as the crow flies Durnton was close to the lighthouse, it was fifteen miles or so by the bridge and the road. 'No, ' said Dick, ' we rowed across the river.' 'You--you rowed? What, all by yourselves? Why, where's your boat?' 'Sunk, ' said Dick, indifferently. 'We sunk her as we landed.' This as though he had done it on purpose, and in the tone of a smart naval officer describing a cuttingout expedition. 'And whose boat was it as you sunk?' 'Oh, it was Lucy's--that is, George Pafkes' boat, the Nancy?...