The Argosy — page 273: what you’re looking at

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

256 My Channel Passage. lowing morning saw us on our road to Calais. Charley was a better traveller than his mother had led me to suppose. He was up and ready to start, though the hour fixed upon was a very early one; and at the railway station he registered the luggage with as much punctuality and exactness as a courier. We found the sea, to use my companion’s expression, lively. It was a fine, breezy day, with a bright blue sky overhead, and it was pleasant to sit and watch the great waves with their white crests chasing each other in their haste to get to shore. The boat was not full, which I was glad to notice—a crowded steamer is always dis- agreeable. Most of the passengers took refuge below, so we had the deck nearly to ourselves. As we left. the, coast of France the wind grew stronger and my - companion less talkative; so when the shore had faded from my view I settled myself comfortably on a cushion, took a book from my bag, and began to read. The story was an interesting one, andI was quite absorbed in it, till, roused by a change in the motion of the — vessel, I looked up half expecting to. see the white cliffs of Dover, — and. thinking what a short and pleasant run we had made. But no ~ land was in sight; the steamer slackened speed, and in .another — moment came to a dead stop. ‘IT have come across a score of times,” I said to Charley, whowas — lying on a rug at my feet, ‘‘ but I never knew such a thing to happen | before. Itis bad enough when a train halts between two stations—that — always makes me nervous—but at any rate one can get out. Atsea, _ one feels doubly helpless,” “Can’t you swim, Mrs. Calvert?” Charley asked, looking up into my face with an air of mock sympathy that was rather trying. a ‘ No,” I, replied, coolly, determined to give him no chance of‘ making fun of me. ‘‘So you see if the boat. should go down you ~ have your work cut out for you. Go and see what is the matter, there’s a good fellow.” There was nothing the matter—so Charley on his return reported, | ‘It, was all right and no end jolly (I am quoting Charley, remember) | - to be quite still, He wished they would go the whole way likethat.” How it was to be managed he did not say. And greatly to his dis- | appointment the vessel, though making no progress, rocked in a,, manner that was decidedly unpleasant to anyone but a good sailor. , I found it difficult to believe that we came to a standstill in mid- | ocean for no reason, and when the excitement had a little calmed down I beckoned to the. steward who was. standing near me ane begged him to explain the mystery. fats nothing of any consequence, ma’am,” he replied with a, friendly smile.. ‘‘ Only of course it will delay us a bit. The stuffing, has come out of the piston—so I hear—and the engine won’t work. We'd try to sail, but the wind is dead against us—it ame is, SCEMS | to me, when it might be of use,” ot Gomicsdooks.com j | |