The Steam-Packet: A Tale of the River and the Ocean — page 81: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

56 THE STEAM PACKET. as he rose tothe surface, almost blinded and suffocated with the water ; and Tom Gibbins and one of the sailors of the packet instantaneously leapt overboard to his assistance. In a short time the captain was safe upon the deck,—the gallant. tailor hastily sprung up the vessel’s side once more,—the stout passenger in the wherry was too much bruised and battered himself to wish ta provoke a renewal of the - combat; and thus terminated this memorable adventure; which is preserved amongst the archives of the Honourable and Independent Club of Luminaries. The welcome and congratulations of the members of that famous association, the silent gratitude of the ladies, the warm shake of the hand bestowed by Mr. Pifpaf, and a dry suit of clothes in a private cabin, awaited the gallant captain, and rewarded him for the dangers which he had incurred. CHAPTER VI. IN WHICH THE VOYAGE IS CONTINUED DOWN THE RIVER.-—-A REMEDY FOR SEA*SICKNESS.——-THE ARRIVAL AT MARGATE, THE vessel went rapidly down the river, after the combat related in the preceding chapter, passing by the Trafalgar and Lovegrove’s Hotels, at which we have frequently partaken of repasts ever grateful and pleas- ing to our mnemonical appetite. Com- mend me, gentle reader, to the former of those establishments, for the ex- cellence of the wine, the variety of the repast, and the amount of civility, which are offered for your money, But it is not our intention to dwell upon the features or characteristics of the banks of the Thames: these have been so often described be- fore—and, in one instance, so admirably delineated *—that it would be a mere work of supererogation to attempt a farther explanation here. Suffice it to say that Belinda was so delighted at the beauty of * The author alludes to Mr. ERAN s work, entitled ‘‘ The Thames and its Tributaries.’’ (e{0) ’ mc ~ > Pe Se Gomicbooks