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The excerpt represents the core issue or deciding factor on which you must meditate, and is drawn from Records of a Family of Engineers by Robert Louis Stevenson: dimensions. When there was what is called a breeze of wind,
and a swell in the sea, the proper number for each boat could
not, with propriety, be rated at more than twelve persons.
When the tide-bell rung the boats were hoisted out, and
two active seamen were employed to keep them from receiving
damage alongside. The floating light being very buoyant, was
so quick in her motions that when those who were about to step
from her gunwale into a boat, placed themselves upon a cleat
or step on the ship's side, with the man or rail ropes in
their hands, they had often to wait for some time till a
favourable opportunity occurred for stepping into the boat.
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