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 the deck. "Do you know what I should do with the 'Great Eastern' if she belonged to me? No. Well, I would make a pleasure-boat of her, and charge 10,000 francs ahead; there would only be millionnaires on board, and people who were not pressed for time. I would take a month or six weeks going from England to America; the ship never against the waves, and the wind always ahead or astern; there should be no rolling, no pitching, and I would pay a 100l. in any case of sea-sickness."

"That is a practical idea," said I.

"Yes," replied Pitferge, "there's money to be gained or lost by that!"

In the meantime the "Great Eastern" was slowly but steadily continuing her way; the swell was frightful, but her straight stem cut the waves regularly, and shipped no more water. It was no longer a metal mountain making against a mountain of water, but as sedentary as a rock the "Great Eastern" received the billows with perfect indifference. The rain fell in torrents, and we were obliged to take refuge under the eaves of the grand saloon; with the shower the violence of the wind and sea assuaged; the western sky grew clear, and the last black clouds vanished in the opposite horizon; at ten o'clock the hurricane sent us a farewell gust.

At noon an observation was able to be made and was as follows:—