Page:Twenty Thousand Verne Frith 1876.pdf/30

 The fly, at twenty francs the course, descended Broadway as far as Union Square, proceeded along Fourth Avenue to its junction with Bowery Street, entered Katrin Street, and stopped at the thirty-fourth pier. There the Katrin ferry took us all over—men, horses, and carriage, to Brooklyn, the great suburb of New York, situated upon the left bank of the river; and in a few minutes we reached the quay, close to which the Abraham Lincoln was vomiting huge volumes of black smoke from her two funnels.

Our baggage was immediately put on board. I hurried after it, and asked to see the commodore. One of the sailors conducted me up to the poop, where I found myself in the presence of an officer of pleasant appearance, who offered me his hand.

“Monsieur Pierre Aronnax?” said he.

“The same,” said I. “Have I the pleasure to address Commodore Farragut?”

“Yes, in person. You are welcome, sir, and your cabin is prepared.”

I saluted him, and leaving the commodore to his duties, I descended to the cabin destined for my reception.

The Abraham Lincoln had been well selected and fitted out for its novel enterprise. She was a quick sailer, fitted with superheating apparatus, which permitted the expansion of the steam to seven atmospheres. With such a pressure, the Abraham Lincoln attained an average speed of eighteen miles and a quarter an hour, a very considerable speed, too, but not sufficient to cope with the gigantic cetacean.

The interior arrangements of the frigate were in keep-