Silverland | Page 3

helpless as Agamemnon when he was stricken by the felon blow being indeed entangled z>i XITWI; and, being hurled bodily across the cabin, I was only brought up by the woodwork of the opposite berth, with 'serious damage to figure-head.' An hour later lying swathed in wet bandages, stupid, and still half stunned I was aware of a shock, a crash, and a quiver of the ship from stern to stem; and my servant, entering hastily, told us that "the saloon was knee-deep in water." Since, some years ago, lie first followed my fortunes, I had not seen his sedate countenance seriously perturbed; and, with a certain satisfaction, I now noted a ruffling of its serenity. Though we were going all sixteen knots, one of the billows ravening in our track had got more way on yet; and, tumbling inboard over the quarter, stormed the saloon through a shattered panel; crushing in the roof of the wheel-house to boot, and knocking a quartermaster or so completely out of time. However, the gale, as if satisfied with having proved its power, began thenceforth to abate;. and, though we never saw the sun, or rode on a level keel, till we had left the Newfoundland banks far behind, the Atlantic refrained from further violence.
Our fellow-voyagers were a very level lot: the commercial element, of course, largely predominating; for few, at this season, travel for their pleasure. Yet we made some pleasant acquaintances notably that of an American ex-minister, who, in long sojourn in the sunny South, had nearly lost his nationality. The slow soft voice, languid gentleness of manner, and thorough insouciwwe, savoured far more of Castile than Kentucky. Also, he had lived in close intimacy with the luckless Maximilian; and, though loth to broach the subject, he told us enough to revive regrets for as good and gallant a gentleman as any that have died fur Ehr und Reclit.
The passenger-list held another name, known to all who have perused a certain famous 'Diary.' Here was the irrepressible Wigfall whilome Confederate senator and general; now, as a sardonic Yankee put it, " loafing around on the mining tack;" but still
Impiger, iracundus, inexoralnlis, acer,
as when he bearded our Arch-Special under Fort Sumter's guns. This 'outrage,' perchance, brought him evil luck; for the world seems to have gone hardly with him since, and amongst his own countrymen he had little honour. Some of these last looked on that inroad of the sea as a kind of judgment on his rebel talk, that then chanced to be in full swing. Nevertheless, an honest heart, I warrant it; and none of us Britishers wished him other than good speed down in Colorado.
At the close of Atlantic voyages, certain ceremonials are seldom omitted, unless from stress of weather. All these were duly performed, the chorus-singing the mock trial (the criminal was represented by an 'Israelite indeed,' the like of whom I have not seen off the stage) the lottery of the pilot-boat's number the vote of thanks and confidence to the Captain; albeit this last was more than a mere formality. Early on the fourteenth morning we sighted Sandy Hook.

CHAPTER II.
THE low shores were deeply fringed with snow and rime; the bare branches on the ridge of Staten Island stood out sharp against a steel-blue sky; and, crossing the New Jersey ferry, we encountered more than one ice-floe driving seaward from the Hudson. Thus, we began to realise that there might be germs of truth in those rumours of trouble in the far West which, on the landing stage in the Mersey, sounded like idle words; and these misgivings were strengthened that same evening.
We were scarcely housed at 'The Brevoort,'-cosy, and full of Apician appliances as of old, --when two or three of the kindly folk, for whom we brought letters, came to make us welcome. From these we learned that, for fully three weeks, no pioneers had been found strong or bold enough to force the entrenchments within which the Erl King held his own against all comers, laying embargo even on the mails. The limits of the blockade were ill defined: men spoke of it vaguely as stretching westwards from Cheyenne the most formidable obstacles lying along the Laramie plains, and on the slopes of the Wahsatch range. Provoking news, certainly, for those who were bound to press forward; yet the enforced delay lacked not solace.
I think, one ought to be unfettered by any business or mission, to thoroughly appreciate the hospitalities of the Empire City. It is so pleasant to believe, that there is nothing venal or official in the frank and free courtesies proffered at every turn. I do not speak of banquetings and junketings alone; though a dinner at the Manhattan Club, prepared by an artist whose salary might have lured Ude