Page:The Homes of the New World- Vol. III.djvu/280

Rh The first day of our voyage was a particularly merry one and the ladies of our little party were very amusing to each other. Miss Mac I., now removed from an environment of sorrow, bloomed forth into such fresh life and vivacity and wit, as her earnest, classical countenance had not led me to expect from her. Mrs. W. H. has always a fund of calm, good-natured humour at hand, and the two together excited Miss Dix to a friendly quarrel. We had also a certain dominant and philanthropic lady on board, who would domineer over us all, and who made “mountains of mole-heaps.” But we took it all in good part and were very merry. Our pretty little Magnolia, wedged its way gaily, in all sorts of curves and angles, through the swampy flats where, among many currents, it had to find out its own. I could not help admiring its courage and its many expedients, only it seemed to me to have quite too great a fancy for the land, for we often struck against the banks, whilst we swung between them, but there was often no space to take any free sweep.

“Beautiful evening, Missis!” said the black helmsman, looking out of his little house on deck, with a good-humoured countenance, and addressing one of the ladies of our party.

“Yes, but—shall we soon reach our quarters for the night?”

“Oh, yes—oh yes, immediately! We shall soon get along. Don't be uneasy, Missis, Ma'am!”

Shortly after, when we were all sitting at tea, the vessel was suddenly heaved up, as by a strong wave, and then—we stood still, although the engines kept working on for a moment. The captain, who was sitting at the table, and a couple of other gentlemen, sprang up and rushed out.

It was apparent that the ignorant extra-ordinary helmsman (the ordinary one lay sick at Savannah) had mistaken the channel of the stream, and had steered us directly upon a projecting point of land. It was overflowed with