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stand upon his head！ or our coat upon its peg； imitating us as we
appeared in our gymnastic days by sustaining itself horizontally
from the wall； in emulation of the lighter and more facile towels！
Then would the voice especially claim us for its prey； and rend us
all to pieces。
Lights out； we in our berths； and the wind rising； the voice grows
angrier and deeper。 Under the mattress and under the pillow； under
the sofa and under the washing…stand； under the ship and under the
sea； seeming to rise from the foundations under the earth with
every scoop of the great Atlantic （and oh！ why scoop so？）； always
the voice。 Vain to deny its existence in the night season；
impossible to be hard of hearing； screw； screw； screw！ Sometimes
it lifts out of the water； and revolves with a whirr； like a
ferocious firework； … except that it never expends itself； but is
always ready to go off again； sometimes it seems to be in anguish；
and shivers； sometimes it seems to be terrified by its last plunge；
and has a fit which causes it to struggle； quiver； and for an
instant stop。 And now the ship sets in rolling； as only ships so
fiercely screwed through time and space； day and night； fair
weather and foul； CAN roll。
Did she ever take a roll before like that last？ Did she ever take
a roll before like this worse one that is coming now？ Here is the
partition at my ear down in the deep on the lee side。 Are we ever
coming up again together？ I think not； the partition and I are so
long about it that I really do believe we have overdone it this
time。 Heavens； what a scoop！ What a deep scoop； what a hollow
scoop； what a long scoop！ Will it ever end； and can we bear the
heavy mass of water we have taken on board； and which has let loose
all the table furniture in the officers' mess； and has beaten open
the door of the little passage between the purser and me； and is
swashing about； even there and even here？ The purser snores
reassuringly； and the ship's bells striking； I hear the cheerful
'All's well！' of the watch musically given back the length of the
deck； as the lately diving partition； now high in air； tries
（unsoftened by what we have gone through together） to force me out
of bed and berth。
'All's well！' Comforting to know； though surely all might be
better。 Put aside the rolling and the rush of water； and think of
darting through such darkness with such velocity。 Think of any
other similar object coming in the opposite direction！
Whether there may be an attraction in two such moving bodies out at
sea； which may help accident to bring them into collision？
Thoughts； too； arise （the voice never silent all the while； but
marvellously suggestive） of the gulf below； of the strange；
unfruitful mountain ranges and deep valleys over which we are
passing； of monstrous fish midway； of the ship's suddenly altering
her course on her own account； and with a wild plunge settling
down； and making THAT voyage with a crew of dead discoverers。 Now；
too； one recalls an almost universal tendency on the part of
passengers to stumble； at some time or other in the day； on the
topic of a certain large steamer making this same run； which was
lost at sea； and never heard of more。 Everybody has seemed under a
spell； compelling approach to the threshold of the grim subject；
stoppage； discomfiture； and pretence of never having been near it。
The boatswain's whistle sounds！ A change in the wind； hoarse
orders issuing； and the watch very busy。 Sails come crashing home
overhead； ropes （that seem all knot） ditto； every man engaged
appears to have twenty feet； with twenty times the average amount
of stamping power in each。 Gradually the noise slackens； the
hoarse cries die away； the boatswain's whistle softens into the
soothing and contented notes； which rather reluctantly admit that
the job is done for the time； and the voice sets in again。
Thus come unintelligible dreams of up hill and down； and swinging
and swaying； until consciousness revives of atmospherical Windsor
soap and bilge…water； and the voice announces that the giant has
come for the water…cure again。
Such were my fanciful reminiscences as I lay； part of that day； in
the Bay of New York； O！ Also as we passed clear of the Narrows；
and got out to sea； also in many an idle hour at sea in sunny
weather！ At length the observations and computations showed that
we should make the coast of Ireland to…night。 So I stood watch on
deck all night to…night； to see how we made the coast of Ireland。
Very dark； and the sea most brilliantly phosphorescent。 Great way
on the ship； and double look…out kept。 Vigilant captain on the
bridge； vigilant first officer looking over the port side； vigilant
second officer standing by the quarter…master at the compass；
vigilant third officer posted at the stern rail with a lantern。 No
passengers on the quiet decks； but expectation everywhere
nevertheless。 The two men at the wheel very steady； very serious；
and very prompt to answer orders。 An order issued sharply now and
then； and echoed back； otherwise the night drags slowly； silently；
with no change。
All of a sudden； at the blank hour of two in the morning； a vague
movement of relief from a long strain expresses itself in all
hands； the third officer's lantern tinkles； and he fires a rocket；
and another rocket。 A sullen solitary light is pointed out to me
in the black sky yonder。 A change is expected in the light； but
none takes place。 'Give them two more rockets； Mr。 Vigilant。' Two
more； and a blue…light burnt。 All eyes watch the light again。 At
last a little toy sky…rocket is flashed up from it； and； even as
that small streak in the darkness dies away； we are telegraphed to
Queenstown； Liverpool； and London； and back again under the ocean
to America。
Then up come the half…dozen passengers who are going ashore at
Queenstown and up comes the mail…agent in charge of the bags； and
up come the men who are to carry the bags into the mail…tender that
will come off for them out of the harbour。 Lamps and lanterns
gleam here and there about the decks； and impeding bulks are
knocked away with handspikes； and the port…side bulwark； barren but
a moment ago； bursts into a crop of heads of seamen； stewards； and
engineers。
The light begins to be gained upon； begins to be alongside； begins
to be left astern。 More rockets； and； between us and the land；
steams beautifully the Inman steamship City of Paris； for New York；
outward bound。 We observe with complacency that the wind is dead
against her （it being WITH us）； and that she rolls and pitches。
（The sickest passenger on board is the most delighted by this
circumstance。） Time rushes by as we rush on； and now we see the
light in Queenstown Harbour； and now the lights of the mail…tender
coming out to us。 What vagaries the mail…tender performs on the
way； in every point of the compass； especially in those where she
has no business； and why she performs them； Heaven only knows！ At
length she is seen plunging within a cable's length of our port
broadside； and is being roared at through our speaking…trumpets to
do this thing； and not to do that； and to stand by the other； as if
she were a very demented tender indeed。 Then； we slackening amidst
a deafening roar of steam； this much…abused tender is made fast to
us by hawsers； and the men in readiness carry the bags aboard； and
return for more； bending under their burdens； and looking just like
the pasteboard figures of the miller and his men in the theatre of
our boyhood； and comporting themselves almost as unsteadily。 All
the while the unfortunate tender plunges high and low； and is
roared at。 Then the Queenstown passengers are put on board of her；
with infinite plunging and roaring； and the tender gets heaved up
on the sea to that surprising extent that she looks within an ace
of washing aboard of us； high and dry。 Roared at with contumely to
the last； this wretched tender is at length let go； with a final
plunge of great ignominy； and falls spinning into our wake。
The voice of conscience resumed its dominion as the day climbed up
the sky； and kept by all of us passengers into port； kept by us as
we passed other lighthouses； and dangerous islands off the coast；
where some of the officers； with whom I stood my watch； had gone
ashore in sailing…ships in fogs （and of which by that token they
seemed to have quite an affectionate remembrance）； and past the
Welsh coast； and past the Cheshire coast； and past everything and
everywhere lying between our ship and her own special dock in the
Mersey。 Off which； at last； at nine of the clock； on a fair
evening early in May； we stopped； and the voice ceased。 A very
curious sensation； not unlike having my own ears stopped； ensued
upon that silence； and it was with a no less curious sensation that
I went over the side of the good Cunard ship 'Russi