AT SEA 275 



the prevailing expression here. The sea-fowls have 

 weird and disconsolate cries, and appear doomed to 

 perpetual solitude. But these dolphins know what 

 companionship is, and are in their own demesne. 

 When one sees them bursting out of the waves, the 

 impression is that school is just out; there come 

 the boys, skipping and laughing, and, seeing us 

 just passing, cry to one another: "Now for a race! 

 Hurrah, boys! We can beat 'em! " 



One notices any change in the course of the ship 

 by the stars at night. For nearly a week Venus 

 sank nightly into the sea far to the north of us. 

 Our course coming home is south-southwest. Then, 

 one night, as you promenade the deck, you see, 

 with a keen pleasure, Venus through the rigging 

 dead ahead. The good ship has turned the corner ; 

 she has scented New York harbor, and is making 

 straight for it, with New England far away there 

 on her right. Now sails and smoke-funnels begin 

 to appear. All ocean paths converge here: full- 

 rigged ships, piled with canvas, are passed, rocking 

 idly upon the polished surface; sails are seen just 

 dropping below the horizon, phantom ships without 

 hulls, while here and there the black smoke of some 

 steamer tarnishes the sky. Now we pass steamers 

 that left New York but yesterday; the City of 

 Rome — looking, with her three smoke-stacks and 

 her long hull, like two steamers together — creeps 

 along the southern horizon, just ready to vanish 

 behind it. Now she stands in the reflected light 

 of a great white cloud which makes a bright track 



