The long covered dock was crowded with men, women, and children, nearly
all of whom were talking at the same time. Large wagons were
unloading; trunks, boxes and steamer-chairs stood about, which the
steamer "hands" were carrying up the gangway as rapidly as possible;
huge cases, burlap-covered bundles, barrels and boxes were being
lowered into the hold by means of a derrick; men were shouting,
children crying, horses champing, and in the midst of the confusion
loving last words were being spoken.
When papa joined the grown people in the saloon, Charlie, Selwyn, and
Ned made a tour of the steamer. Of course they were careful not to get
in the way of the busy sailors, but they found lots to see without
doing that. First, wraps and hand-satchels were deposited in their
state-rooms, which were directly opposite each other, and the
state-rooms thoroughly investigated, each boy climbing into the upper
berths "to see how it felt." Then they visited the kitchen, saw the
enormous tea and coffee pots, and the deep, round shining pans in which
the food was cooked.
Pages:
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88