登陆注册
5156500000046

第46章

THE FOUR MacNICOLS.BY WILLIAM BLACK.

This is the true story of how four lads in a fishing village in the North of Scotland, being left orphans by the drowning of their father, learned the great lesson of self-help.

They were the four MacNicols,--Robert, an active, stout-sinewed, black-eyed lad of seventeen; his two younger brothers, Duncan and Nicol; and his cousin Neil.

It was a sad evening for Rob MacNicol when the body of his father was brought home to their poor lodgings.It was his first introduction to the hard facts of life.

"Neil," said Rob to his cousin, "we'll have to think about things now.We have just about as much left as will pay the lodgings this week, and Nicol must go three nights a week to the night school.What we get for stripping the nets will not do now."--"It will not," said Neil.

"Neil," said he, "if we had only a net; do you not think we could trawl for cuddies?" And again he said, "Neil, do you not think we could make a net for ourselves out of the old rags lying about the shed?" And again he said, "Do you think that Peter the tailor would let us have his old boat for a shilling a week?"It was clear that Rob had been carefully considering the details of this plan.And it was eagerly welcomed, not only by Neil, but also by the brothers, Duncan and Nicol.

It was agreed, under Rob's direction, to set to work at once.So Rob bade his brothers and cousin get their rude fishing rods, and hie away down to the rocks at the mouth of the harbor, and see what fish they could get for him during the afternoon.

Meanwhile he himself went along to a shed which was used as a sort of storage house by some of the fishermen; and here he found lying about plenty of pieces of net that had been cast aside as worthless.

Rob was allowed to pick out a number of pieces that he thought might serve his purpose; and these he carried home.But then came the question of floats and sinkers.Enough pieces of cork to form the floats might intime be found about the beach; but the sinkers had all been removed from the castaway netting.

II.

Rob was a quick-witted lad, and soon formed the plan of rigging up a couple of guy poles, as the salmon fishers call them, one for each end of the small seine he had in view.These guy poles, with a lump of lead at the lower end, would keep the net vertical while it was being dragged through the water.

All this took up the best part of the afternoon; for he had to hunt about before he could get a couple of stout poles; and he had to bargain with the blacksmith for a lump of lead.Then he walked along to the point where the other MacNicols were busy fishing.

They had been lucky with their lines and bait.On the rocks beside them lay two or three small codfish, a large flounder, two good-sized lythe, and nearly a dozen saithe.Rob washed them clean, put a string through their gills, and marched off with them to the village.

He felt no shame in trying to sell fish: was it not the whole trade of the village? So he walked into the grocer's shop.

"Will you buy some fish?" said he; "they're fresh." The grocer looked at them.

"What do you want?" "A ball of twine."

"Let me tell you this, Rob," said the grocer severely, "that a lad in your place should be thinking of something else than flying a kite.""I don't want to fly a kite," said Rob, "I want to mend a net.""Oh, that is quite different," said the grocer.So Rob had his ball of twine--and a very large one it was.Off he set to his companions."Come away, boys, I have other work for you."III.

Well, it took them several days of very hard and constant work before they rigged up something resembling a small seine.Then Rob fixed his guy poles to it; and the lads went to the grocer, and got from him a lot of old rope, on the promise to give him a few fresh fish whenever they happened to have a good haul.Then Rob proceeded to his interview withPeter the tailor, who, after a good deal of grumbling, agreed to let them have his boat for a shilling a week.

Rob went back eager and joyous.Forthwith a thorough inspection of the boat was set about by the lads: they tested the oars, they tested the thole pins, they had a new piece of cork put into the bottom.For that evening, when it grew a little more toward dusk, they would make their first cast with their net.

Yes; and that evening, when it had quite turned to dusk, the people of Erisaig were startled with a new proclamation.It was Neil MacNicol, standing in front of the cottages, and boldly calling forth these words:--"IS THERE ANY ONE WANTING CUDDIES? THERE ARE CUDDIES TO BE SOLD AT THE WEST SLIP, FOR SIXPENCE A HUNDRED!"The sale of the cuddies went on briskly.Indeed, when the people had gone away there was not a fish left except a dozen that Rob had put into a can of water, to be given to the grocer as part payment for the loan of the ropes.

"What do you make it altogether?" said Neil to Rob, who was counting the money.

"Three shillings and ninepence."

"Three shillings and ninepence! Man, that's a lot! Will you put it in the savings bank?""No, I will not," said Rob."I'm not satisfied with the net, Neil.We must have better ropes all the way round; and sinkers, too."IV.

One afternoon, about ten days afterward, they set out as usual.They had earned more than enough to pay their landlady, the tailor, and the schoolmaster; and every farthing beyond these expenses they had spent on the net.

Well, on this afternoon, Duncan and Nicol were pulling away to one of the small, quiet bays, and Rob was idly looking around him, when he saw something on the surface of the sea at some distance off that excited a sudden interest.It was what the fishermen call "broken water,"--a seething produced by a shoal of fish.

"Look, look, Neil!" he cried."It's either mackerel or herring: shall we try for them?"The greatest excitement now prevailed on board.The younger brothers pulled their hardest for that rough patch on the water.

They came nearer and nearer that strange hissing of the water.They kept rather away from it; and Rob quietly dropped the guy pole over, paying out the net rapidly, so that it should not be dragged after the boat.

同类推荐
  • 雷峰塔奇传

    雷峰塔奇传

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 庄氏史案

    庄氏史案

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 宗玄先生文集

    宗玄先生文集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 入浮石山

    入浮石山

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 究竟大悲经卷第二

    究竟大悲经卷第二

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 隐密杀手

    隐密杀手

    一个真实的故事,一个现实的生活因为情感轨道的偏移留下了无尽的悔
  • 白少,宠妻如命

    白少,宠妻如命

    “小柔,我爱你。”男友的生日宴,公然挽着她异卵双胞胎的妹妹出现,只当她不存在般,诉说着彼此的爱语。她心碎了一地,脸上却绽放出前所未有的艳丽笑容。“既然这样,那我祝你们有情人终成怨偶。”只留给他们一个骄傲的背影,没有人看见,转身之后,她眼角滑落的泪,和心底的绝望。两年的感情,到头来,不过是一场笑话。直到遇见了他,白胜,英国皇室公主的子孙,国家安全局局长白迟的儿子,国安局反恐特勤队队长,华丽丽的军三代,香港最具价值的黄金单身汉。他用他的深情,许给了她一整个宇宙。*【腹黑毒舌卷】“姐姐,爸爸已经答应我和少泉的婚事了,就在皇朝国际酒店举行,少泉说越隆重越好,但是我最想得到的,还是你的祝福,你能去参加吗?”季柔一脸诚恳的说,话语间,透露出的是无尽的炫耀。她暗嘲,这演技倒是越来越长进,都能角逐奥斯卡了。正要说话,一旁的男人却云淡风轻的道:“不巧,我已经答应英女王那天要带妍妍去参加白金汉宫的王室盛宴,季小姐不嫌弃的话,婚礼那天我可以让闵总打个折,就算作是我和妍妍送的礼金了。”看到季柔有如便秘般的表情,她不厚道的想拍桌大笑。事后,她开玩笑问他:“你一个大男人,用这种招,不觉得幼稚啊?”那人勾唇,脸上是风华绝代的浅笑。“招不存在幼稚不幼稚,只要管用就行,你不觉得,以彼之道还施彼身,对她们来说才是最受打击的么?”*【温情溺宠卷】拍卖会上,他一掷亿金,只为博佳人一笑。她弱弱的问:“我是不是太败家了?”那人答曰:“不会,赚了钱就是用来给老婆败的,不然赚那么多的钱,连个帮我花的人都没有,多没成就感。我现在就缺个人给我败家。”某人无限感动ING“你不要对我太好,会把我宠坏的。”“宠坏就宠坏吧,就算有一天你刀架在我脖子上,我也只会笑着闭上眼睛。”*【如狼似虎卷】“阿胜,今天又有女人找上门了,她说跟你青梅竹马,感情深厚。”某人语气不善。正在她颈项边啃咬的男人漫不经心的“哦”了声:“那你怎么说?”“我说我是你老婆,明媒正娶,情投意合。”男人点点头。“不错,下次再有人上门,你就说你是我孩子她妈,同床共枕,情比金坚。”女人疑惑。“孩子都没有,哪来的妈?”“乖,我们现在不是在造么。我努力点,你很快就能当上妈了。”说完,果断的扑倒,吃之。*
  • 捡个竹马带回家

    捡个竹马带回家

    从不相信婚姻的她,却试图寻找着一分最纯粹的爱情。有人告诉过她:“那些别人越不让你做的,你越应该试试,只有试过了你才会发现它的美好。”所以她学会了独立,学会了世故。也有人告诉过她:“一生短暂,只有少走弯路,才会少一分后悔,多一分接近理想的机会。”所以她学会了从容,学会安逸。只是后来,她慢慢忘记了自己的初衷,丢失了信仰与追求。以至于后来遇见更好的人,也不敢成全自己。“晚晚,这次我想保护好你。”
  • 不负卿心不负君

    不负卿心不负君

    她是祸国殃民的妖后,他是推翻暴君仁政爱民的新帝。前朝破灭,她侥幸活命却沦为人人可欺的冷宫罪后。少时青梅竹马,再回首,却已分不清爱恨。他娶了别的女人做皇后,却对她念念不忘,男人恨声道:“孟娴君,这些都是你欠我的。”孟娴君望着那个自己曾经爱到骨子里,说要将整个天下和她共享的男人,魅惑一笑:“晏惊弦,你我……两不相欠。”
  • 诸天神阙

    诸天神阙

    无量宇宙诸神众生,掌御鸿蒙一统诸天。统御诸神众生万灵,主宰诸天万千世界。圣庭书友群:566317902
  • 陛下有孕:家师不包送

    陛下有孕:家师不包送

    她,女扮男装,一朝登基为皇,只为撑起这独孤家的天下。他,是人们口中最为神秘的人——皇帝的师傅。独孤亚楠坐拥后宫佳丽三千;临烜只身一人神秘莫测,江湖诺大四海为家;独孤亚楠则受困宫中,锦衣华服山珍海味;临烜风餐露宿清茶淡粥。当两人成了师徒……独孤亚楠女儿身的事情瞬间爆出,以往王朝男尊女卑,现如今女帝在位,位置颠倒,后宫成了男人的天下!!某日,临烜将某女压在身下,“亚楠,我帮你做了这么多,你是不是该付出什么?嗯~”独孤亚楠蒙,“师傅,严肃点儿!起来!”临烜霸气侧漏:“我要做帝后!!”“……正好应付皇祖母了。”她喃喃出声,没有拒绝。临烜一本正经勾重点:“你养我!另外,本人不包送…”(绝对甜文)
  • 纯念

    纯念

    花季雨季,她年华正茂,他青涩胆怯,朦朦胧胧中,那看似不真实的爱情,谁来书写结局……
  • 妖后邪皇

    妖后邪皇

    女强男强,强强联手;女黑男黑,黑的一塌糊涂...入异世,偷神药,她是绝迹的九尾银狐进相府,寻真凶,她是冷情的相府九小姐万魔窟,噬巨蟒,她是嗜血的越级唯一玄者闯沧海,得经卷,她是邪佞的举世无双第一人行鬼府,踏古墓,她是神秘的千面玉狐楼外楼主嫁王府,斗妾嫔,她是娇憨的天真无邪扮猪吃虎妃登后座,上朝堂,她是妖媚的宠惯六宫迷惑君主妖后玄镜大陆,武者为强,玄者为尊!各族各派为追逐万年前留下的绝世经卷争夺不断妲姬,九尾狐族的正统血脉,天赋异禀,举世无双的存在!为替惨死的姑姑报仇,她放弃千年修为来到这片陌生的大陆从头再来又何惧,终有一天她会把触及她逆鳞之人,践踏于脚下!入世为狐,偷神药化人形,再进相府,寻找幕后真凶阴差阳错,嫁给了五王爷——百里扶汐,那个面似谪仙,心如狂魔的腹黑男人哪一面才是真正的他,雪衣‘第一战神’?墨裳‘银面邪君’?而他将如何虏获傲视狐女的芳心驯魔兽,闯古墓,入沧海,游古墟,踏平原,渡灵岛,登蛮古,行雪原……北斗诀,六字咒尽敛囊中……静观一代妖后的崛起!且看她如何以玄镜之像,遮天蔽日!“女人,他们说我是昏君邪皇,你是祸水妖后,魅惑君主祸乱朝纲呢!”“红颜不祸水,对不起自己!我就要你宠着我,把历史统统改写,谁耐我何!”◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇雍容华贵的百里卿静看着妲姬那一张似曾相识的容貌,脸色瞬间惨白,双目睁大,汗如雨落。“你、你、你是人是鬼......”“娘你放心,不管她是人是鬼,今天惠儿就让她灰飞烟灭!”千夜惠把其母百里卿静护在身后,不屑地轻瞥着妲姬,高傲道。“哦?灰飞烟灭?好大的口气!”妲姬慵懒邪魅的斜依在软榻之上,本来闭目养神的她缓缓的睁开了那双紫红媚眼,光如利剑,“不管你是神魔鬼怪妖佛仙,还是相府千金小姐,记住一句话!”“宁被恶鬼怨灵缠身,也不要惹到我妲姬!”◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇洞房花烛夜。“娘子可是等心急了?”随着开门声,男子的邪肆一笑也随之传来。妲姬本在洞房内独自享受花烛美酒,盖头早已不知去向,一身艳红更衬的她妖媚惑人,沾着酒水的粉唇发出诱人的晶莹。“怎么是你!”早知道当初与她有‘一见之仇’的男人身份不简单,没想到他就是百里扶汐,当初她可是为了修玄报仇把他王府的宝贝洗劫一空啊!这不是自投罗网吗?
  • 假面骑士Gene

    假面骑士Gene

    给自己取名为天野亮司的失忆青年在一个怪异基地中醒来,而他的身体已经发生了剧烈的异变,有着超凡的力量。完全想不起关于人类社会的任何信息的他跟随着自己脑中的神秘声音迪恩逃亡着。当改造怪人站在自己面前,亮司自认为逃不掉的时候,一条腰带出现在了他的腰上……【片段,联锁,起源】(作为全网可能记忆力最差的业余写手我经常忘记更新。对的,这书我而月就写完了,放在那里,然后忘了更新,个人也因为以前的一些意外不怎么信任定时发布23333。所以更新不定,但一周至少五章,不用担心太监了什么因为我写完了)注意事项:文笔略渣请轻喷,前期高雷慎入。非原著骑士,是作者自己整的系列,书中原著暗示的地方解释见我的《合集》主角不是用记忆体变身。书友群:882142798(老死群了,哪天开个红黑系列宇宙书友群吧233333)
  • 摆渡人

    摆渡人

    畅销欧美33个国家,荣获多项图书大奖。如果命运是一条孤独的河流,谁会是你灵魂的摆渡人?如果我真的存在,也是因为你需要我。单亲女孩迪伦,15岁的世界一片狼藉:与母亲总是无话可说,在学校里经常受到同学的捉弄,唯一谈得来的好友也因为转学离开了。这一切都让迪伦感到无比痛苦。她决定去看望久未谋面的父亲,然而,路上突发交通事故。等她拼命爬出火车残骸之后,却惊恐地发现,自己是唯一的幸存者,而眼前,竟是一片荒原。此时,迪伦看到不远处的山坡上一个男孩的身影。男孩将她带离了事故现场。但是,迪伦很快意识到,男孩并不是偶然出现的路人,他似乎是特意在此等候。命运,从他们相遇的那刻开始,发生了无法预料的转变……