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An Exercise on Mixed Verbals
Based on The Queen of the Pirate Isle, by Bret Harte
Illustrated by Kate Greenaway
Analysis Key 

    I could not find a gerund used as a subject or an infinitive used as an object of a preposition in the text, so sentences two and ten were modified to make these constructions.

1. The rescued party, {from two} {o'clock} {until four}, passed six weeks [#1]

{on the island} supported [#2] only {by a piece} {of candle}, ( *by* a box} {of

matches}, and { *by* two peppermint lozenges}. |
 

2. Being left [#3] {in the proximity} {of Wan Lee's evil spirit}, {without Wan

Lee's exorcising power}, was anything (PN) {but reassuring [#4] }. |
 

3. To creep [#5] {to the edge} {of the cliff}, to sit [#5] {upon the brown

branches} {of some fallen pine}, and putting aside the dried tassels [#6] 

to look [#5] down {upon the backs} {of wheeling hawks} [Adj. to "hawks" that 

seemed to hang  [#7] {in mid-air}] was a never failing delight (PN). |
 

4. They solemnly began to wade [#8] {in the pool's viscid paint-like shallows}. |
 

5. A fearful desire to continue their awful experiments [#9] , {instead of 

pursuing their piratical avocations [#10] }, was taking possession 

(DO) {of them}. |
 

6. Wan Lee suddenly began to blink his eyes [#11] {with unwonted excitement}. |
 

7. There were no frowning rocks (PN) to depress the children's fancy [#12]. |
 

8. Hickory looking [#13] down {at Patsey's bare feet} instantly took off his

own shoes (DO). |
 

9. She, however, made preparation (DO) {for the proposed flight} { by 

settling [#14] {in her mind} [DO of "settling" which [#15] {of her two dolls} she

would take ] }. |
 

10. To evade the direct question [#16] she had no choice (DO) {but to 

abandon her defiant attitude [#17] }. |
 

11. Probably the principal object {of this performance} was to produce (PN)

a thick coating [#18] {of mud} {on the feet and ankles}. |

Notes
1. Those who see "six weeks" as answering the question "How long?" can explain "weeks" as a Noun Used as an Adverb. Those who see it as answering the question "Passed what?" will view "weeks" as a direct object.
2. "Supported" is a gerundive that modifies "party."
3. "Being left" is a gerund phrase that functions as the subject of "was." [To break it down more, "left" can be explained as a gerundive that functions as a predicate adjective to the gerund "Being."
4. "Reassuring" is a gerund that functions as the object of the preposition "but." The "but" phrase modifies (limits) "anything."
5. The infinitives "To creep," "to sit" and "to look" are the subjects of "was." The singular verb suggests that all three are considered necessary to the "delight."
6. "Tassels" is the direct object of the gerund "putting" which functions as a Noun Used as an Adverb.
7. People who do not want to consider "seemed" as a helping verb (and thus "seemed to hang" as the finite verb phrase) can explain "to hang" as an infinitive that functions as a direct object ("seemed what?") or as an adverb ("seemed how?").
8. The infinitive "to wade" functions as the direct object of "began."
9. "Experiments" is the direct object of the infinitive "to continue." The infinitive phrase functions as an adjective to "desire."
10. "Avocations: is the direct object of the gerund "pursing" which functions as the object of the preposition "instead of." The "instead of" phrase functions as an adverb to "to continue."
11. "Eyes" is the direct object of the infinitive "to blink," which is the direct object of "began."
12. "Fancy" is the direct object of the infinitive "to depress." Some people will see the infinitive phrase as an adjective to "rocks"; others will see it as adverbial to "were" and/or "depressing." For "There," see KISS Level 2.1.3 - Expletives (Optional).
13. "Looking" is a gerundive that modifies "Hickory." Many writers would feel more comfortable with this sentence if the gerundive phrase were set off by commas.
14. The gerund "settling" functions as the object of "by."
15. "Which" functions both as subordinating conjunction and as the direct object of "would take."
16. "Question" is the direct object of the infinitive "To evade." The infinitive phrase functions as an adverb to "no."
17. "Attitude" is the direct object of the infinitive "to abandon" which functions as the object of the preposition "but." The "But" phrase functions as an adverb to "no."
18. "Coating" is the direct object of the infinitive "to produce."