Fenn, George Manville: The Black Bar. V1. 6 Dec 2009
 

George Manville Fenn (January 3, 1831, Pimlico - August 26, 1909, Isleworth) was a British writer.
He worked as a teacher in Lincolnshire, until he became printer, editor and publisher of various magazines. He had two sons and six daughters with his wife Susanna Leake, whom he had married in 1855.
He was editor and proprietor of Once a Week from 1873 until its demise in 1879 and then was entirely engaged in writing fiction. Most of his work consists of adventure stories for young readers, featuring Explorers, Smugglers, young Adventurers and Seamen. His adult novels offer critical social commentary on Victorian England, especially reconsidering economic questions.

Excerpt
Two middies talking in the stern-sheets of the cutter belonging to Her Majesty’s fast little cruiser Nautilus, stationed on the west coast of Africa “blackberrying,” so the men called their duty, Tom Fillot, one of their jokers, giving as the reason that the job was “black and berry nasty.” The sun shone as it can shine in the neighbourhood of the equator, and the sea looked like so much glistening oil, as it slowly heaved up and sank with the long ground swell, the light flashing from the surface attacking the eyes with blinding power, bronzing the faces of some, peeling the noses of others.