368 THE STEAM EXCURSION. 



Mr. Percy Noakes bowed very low ; the gallant captain did the 

 same with all due ferocity, and the Briggs's were clearly overcome. 



" Our friend, Mr. Wizzle, being unfortunately prevented from 

 coming," resumed Mrs. Taunton, " I did myself the pleasure of 

 bringing the captain, whose musical talents I knew would be a great 

 acquisition." 



" In the name of the committee I have to thank you for doing so, 

 and to offer you a most sincere welcome, Sir," replied Percy (here 

 the scraping was renewed). " But pray be seated won't you walk 

 aft ? Captain, will you conduct Miss Taunton ? Miss^Briggs, will 

 you allow me ?" 



" Where could they have picked up that military man ?" inquired 

 Mrs. Briggs of Miss Kate Briggs, as they followed the little party. 



" Can't imagine," replied Miss Kate, bursting with vexation ; for 

 the very fierce air with which the gallant captain regarded the com- 

 pany, had impressed her with a high sense of his importance. 



Boat after boat came alongside, and guest after guest arrived. 

 The invites had been excellently arranged ; Mr. Percy Noakes 

 having considered it as important that the number of young men 

 should exactly tally with that of the young ladies, as that the quan- 

 tity of knives on board should be in precise proportion to the forks. 



" Now is every one on board ?" inquired Mr. Percy Noakes. The 

 committee (who with their bits of blue ribbon, looked as if they were 

 all going to be bled) bustled about to ascertain the fact, and reported 

 that they might safely start. 



" Go on," cried the master of the boat from the top of one of the 

 paddle-boxes. 



" Go on," echoed the boy, who was stationed over the hatchway to 

 pass the directions down to the engineer and away went the vessel 

 with that agreeable noise which is peculiar to steamers, and which is 

 composed of a pleasant mixture of creaking, gushing, clanging, and 

 snorting. 



" Hoi oi oi oi oi oi o i i i," shouted half-a-dozen 

 voices from a boat about a quarter of a mile astern. 



" Ease her/' cried the captain ; " do these people belong to us, 

 Sir ?" 



" Noakes," exclaimed Hardy, who had been looking at every ob- 

 ject, far and near, through the large telescope ; " it's the Fleetwoods 

 and the Wakefields and two children with them, by Jove." 



" What a shame to bring children !" said every body, " how very 

 inconsiderate !" 



" I say, it would be a good joke to pretend not to see 'em, wouldn't 

 it ?" suggested Hardy, to the immense delight of the company gene- 

 rally. A council of war was hastily held, and it was resolved that 

 the new comers should be taken on board, on Mr. Hardy's solemnly 

 pledging himself to teaze the children during the whole of the day. 



" Stop her," cried the captain. 



te Stop her," repeated the boy ; whizz went the steam, and all the 

 young ladies, as in duty bound, screamed in concert. They were only 

 appeased by the assurance of the martial Helves that the escape of 



