ROBERT SMITH SURTEES 145 



came slowly and solemnly upon deck, muffled up 

 in cloaks and coats, some with their passage- 

 money in their hands, and took their places ap- 

 parently with the full expectation of being sick. 



The French packet-boat first gave symptoms of 

 animation, in the shape of a few vigorous puffs 

 from the boiler, which were responded to by the 

 Royal George, whose rope was slipped without the 

 usual tinkle of the bell, and she shot out to sea, 

 closely followed by the Frenchman, who was suc- 

 ceeded by the other English boat. Three or four 

 tremendous long protracted dives, each followed 

 by a majestic rise on the bosom of the waves, de- 

 noted the crossing of the bar ; and just as the 

 creaking of the cordage, the flapping of the sails, 

 and the nervous quivering of the paddles, as they 

 lost their hold of the water, were in full vigour, the 

 mate crossed the deck with a large wliite basin in 

 his hand, the sight of which turned the stomachs 

 of half the passengers. Who shall describe the 

 misery that ensued ? The groans and moans of 

 the sufferers increasing every minute, as the vessel 

 heaved and dived, and rolled and creaked, while 

 hand -basins multiplied as half- sick passengers 

 caught the green countenance and fixed eye of 

 some prostrate sufferer, and were overcome them- 

 selves. . . . 



" MeWy mew" screamed the sea-gulls ; — " crcal\ 

 creak" went the cordage— "yfo/, Jlop" went the 

 I. 



