At Last We
Stopped, And The Big Boilers Sent Out Their Steam Through The Waste
Pipe With A Loud Roar.
Around us was nothing but mist - the, to
me, nastiest form of fog.
We could not see more than three times the
length of the ship. We tried the lead twice, and the second time got
soundings. We then fired a gun - then another - then a third. Then we
moved on - then stopped - then moved on. The Captain sent for his chart,
and put on his eye-glasses. The pilot stared out into the fog, and
pointed first in one direction, then in another. All no use. We knew we
ought to be outside the Queenstown harbour - but we could see
nothing. At last we heard a gun, and then in quick succession appeared
a row boat and a steam tug with the passengers and mails; and, the mist
breaking a little, we saw the land right a-head of us, about half-a-
mile off. It was disagreeable, but it got over; and now came the
transfer of bags, luggage, and passengers - only two or three of the
latter. The tug came alongside and made fast, but there was a good deal
of swell, and as she bobbed up and down it became highly amusing to see
the crew and passengers scramble up the ladder, which sometimes was
perpendicular, and at other times almost flat, as it followed the
altering level of the tug. The ladder got broken - two or three ropes
snapped - a deal of profane swearing took place - but it got over, too.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 473 of 492
Words from 131148 to 131413
of 136421
