United States or Bouvet Island ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
"Who's for the shore?" cried out the skipper from his post on the paddle-box, as soon as the vessel had made fast, and the "brow," or gangway, was shoved ashore for the passengers to land, without any unnecessary delay. "Any ladies or gents for Seaview?" The majority of those on board at once quitted the steamer, amongst them being our quintet.
Oh, Dick, you have been so good to me! so good to me! 'Thank you for that, dear. It hasn't made any difference, has it? 'I can't tell a fib. It hasn't in that way. But don't think I'm not grateful. 'Damn the gratitude! said Dick, huskily, to the paddle-box. 'What's the use of worrying? You know I should ruin your life, and you'd ruin mine, as things are now.
At the same moment a woman, all trembling, came forward and asked the mate if they had got the man out. 'What man? said he. She said she had been standing by the paddle-box, and that one of the sailors, the moment the accident had occurred, had opened the gangway and jumped into the water, no doubt with the intention of rescuing the boys.
The paradox, however, was made plain to her by Hellyer, who did not seem to trouble himself much about the mishap, remaining seated on the hamper, which he had placed by the after sponsing of the starboard paddle-box.
"Two goes of Hollands', the Magnet's off Herne Bay before the Royal Adelaide." "I'll lay a pair of crimping-irons against five shillings, the Magnet beats the Royal Adelaide," bellowed out Green, who having come on board, had mounted the paddle-box. "I say, Green, I'll lay you an even five if you like." "Well, five pounds," cries Green. "No, shillings," says his friend.
The party then returned to the ship, and completed the necessary preparations. The next night the rocket-party, in the Alecto's paddle-box boat, took their departure under the command of Lieutenant Mackinnon.
When he stepped aboard a big fine steamboat, he entered a new and marvelous world: chimney-tops cut to counterfeit a spraying crown of plumes and maybe painted red; pilot-house, hurricane deck, boiler-deck guards, all garnished with white wooden filigree work of fanciful patterns; gilt acorns topping the derricks; gilt deer-horns over the big bell; gaudy symbolical picture on the paddle-box, possibly; big roomy boiler-deck, painted blue, and furnished with Windsor armchairs; inside, a far-receding snow-white 'cabin; porcelain knob and oil-picture on every stateroom door; curving patterns of filigree-work touched up with gilding, stretching overhead all down the converging vista; big chandeliers every little way, each an April shower of glittering glass-drops; lovely rainbow-light falling everywhere from the colored glazing of the skylights; the whole a long-drawn, resplendent tunnel, a bewildering and soul-satisfying spectacle!
Word Of The Day