The Argosy — page 60: what you’re looking at

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

50 On Board the “‘ Batavia.” There were other friends who declared that it was madness to go down the Mediterranean at that time of the year for bracing purposes. The heat would be intense and enervating. But having had no summer in England, we felt that any amount of heat in the Mediterranean would be an agreeable change after our wintry summer. _ Thus it happened that in spite of clouds and rain, in spite of fifty adverse opinions, in spite of the porter at the Métropole, we found ourselves steaming towards the Albert Dock, where the 2atavia was lying in wait for her passengers. Before long the train drew up and discharged her freight in every stage and condition of ulsters, waterproofs and hand-baggage. The ladies, of course, as usual looked frights with poke-hats and peaked-hoods, and dress-improvers all out of shape, and skirts lop- sided. This is the ordinary condition of the Englishwoman abroad. Passing through the shed, there lay the good ship Satavia, imme- diately in front of us. Next to her lay the Bx/bul, and she was to start about ten minutes before we did. The Batavia was on her way to Australia, and passengers by her for India would have to change at Aden. The Bulbul was proceeding direct to India, calling at Marseilles on her way. The Za/avia, on the contrary, would pass by Marseilles, but touched at Gibraltar and Malta. I don’t know whether the 2u/bul was a syren in the boat world, as the nightingale is amongst the birds of the air. If so, she lured her passengers by a song as false as that of those other syrens of the Mediterranean of mythological fame. Had her passengers known the fate that was in store for them, they would have been proof against the sweetest strains of the charmer. We had taken our berths somewhat late in the day, and our cabin proved small and uncomfortable. So that when Mr. Pateman the manager of the passenger department came on board (to whose kind- ness and courtesy we owe an eternal debt of gratitude), we asked if it were possible to be shifted to better quarters. The ship was very full, was the reply, but there was a large and comfortable cabin near the screw, if we cared to risk it. As we could have it to ourselves, we risked it without hesitation, and did well, The screw, for a wonder, never proved objectionable; nor was I ever on board so steady a vessel. The tremulous motion, one of the most trying and disagreeable features in a steamer, was con- spicuous by its absence. The vessel before starting was of course a scene of scrambling and confusion. Saloons and decks were crowded. But fortunately three- fourths of the people on board were only there to see their friends safely off English ground, and to give themselves an opportunity of indulging in the ‘‘ luxury of pain.” One sad “ good-bye” in private is not enough, There must be a hundred in public. When the signal came for the shore, the clearance was “grateful and com- COMIC OOOKS.CO