"Marathon," of the Cunard Line, with the English flag flying from one mast, and the American flag from another, swung out majestically into the channel. Salutations were exchanged and repeated between those on board and those on shore, till recognition was lost in the distance.
A fair breeze was blowing from the south: the sky was overcast, but no rain was falling. One might be excused for considering the day a little gloomy and unpropitious. The lady-passengers were serious and thoughtful. They had separated from those they might never see again. My young traveling - companion was buoyant and happy. He had in anticipation a long pleasuretrip, and a delightful sojourn, as a student, in Germany.
We each had an entire state-room, embracing three berths; and our accommodations were abundantly satisfactory. My sleeping-lounge had been previously lengthened for my special use. If my Maker had fashioned me after the diminutive pattern of Zaccheus, a five-foot-and-ten-inch bed would have been ample; but, being six feet two and a half inches "in my stockings," such a bunk for me is well described by Isaiah, as being "shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it, and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it."
We took our position, involuntarily, on deck, at the stern of the boat, and saw the city gradually