Scarcely had the “Great Eastern” tacked and presented her stern to the waves

Too Long; Didn't Read

Scarcely had the “Great Eastern” tacked and presented her stern to the waves, than the pitching gave way to perfect steadiness; breakfast was served, and the greater part of the passengers, reassured by the ship’s stillness, came into the dining-rooms, and took their repast without fear of another shock. Not a plate fell off the table, and not a glass emptied its contents on to the cloth, although the racks had not even been put up. But three quarters of an hour later the furniture was set in motion again, and the crockery clattered together on the pantry shelves, for the “Great Eastern” had resumed her westerly course, which for the time had been interrupted. I went on deck again with Dr. Pitferge, who seeing the man belonging to the dolls said to him,— “Your little people have been put to a severe test, sir; those poor babies will never prattle in the United States.” “Pshaw!” replied the enterprising Parisian, “the stock was insured, and my secret has not perished with it.” It was evident my countryman was not a man to be easily disheartened, he bowed to us with a pleasant smile, and we continued our way to the stern, where a steersman told us that the rudder-chains had been jammed in the interval between the two swoops.