BRUNO 77 



It was still twilight when we started, and we 

 could see his eyes shining through the glass, as 

 long as the house was in sight. 



The weather, meantime, had not improved, 

 and had we not promised to go, we should cer- 

 tainly have given it up. 



When we reached the wharf, we found that 

 the little steamer's cabin was in the sole posses- 

 sion of our party, all the others having backed 

 out on account of the weather. 



We kept up each other's spirits with all sorts 

 of absurdities, and the boat was soon ploughing a 

 foamy track across the big waves. 



As soon as we steamed out from behind a 

 point of land that sheltered the wharf, we were 

 met by a gale of wind that made the little 

 steamer reel and tremble as if from the shock 

 of a collision. The lights were all promptly 

 extinguished, as the doors were forced open by 

 fierce winds, while we huddled together in a 

 corner, and laughingly reminded each other that 

 it was a "pleasure exertion." 



I shudder now whenever I think of that night, 

 though at the time we did not know enough 

 about the possibilities to be frightened. 



How the little boat pitched and tossed! The 

 waves washed its lower decks, again and again 



