272 THE RETURN. 



The voyage went on very smoothly and pleasantly aftei 

 this, though every one seemed more than usually impa- 

 tient to reach the land. 



At length, just before the time arrived for the land to 

 come in sight, a pilot-boat appeared. The passengers were 

 all very much interested in the coming of the pilot, for 

 they expected that he would bring them the news which 

 had been passing under the Atlantic from Europe to Amer- 

 ica, on the telegraph wire, since they left Liverpool ; and as 

 this was the year of the great French and German war, 

 they were very anxious to learn what had happened since 

 they left the English shores. When the pilot came, how- 

 ever, they were much disappointed at learning that his 

 boat left New York only the day after the steamer had 

 left Liverpool, so that he could give the passengers only 

 one day's later news. 



It was a joyful hour for all the passengers when the 

 steamer was sailing up the harbor. Home seemed to them 

 more attractive, after all, than any of the scenes of novelty 

 and beauty which had enticed them abroad. 



The immense steamer came up very slowly and with 

 much difficulty to the pier. There were many lines taken 

 out in boats to the pier and fastened there, and hard pull- 

 ing upon them by the sailors at windlasses and capstans, 

 and much alternate stopping, and backing, and going for- 

 ward of the engine. There were crowds of people all this 

 time upon the pier waving hats and handkerchiefs, which 

 salutations were responded to by the passengers on board, 

 who crowded the promenade deck and leaned over the 

 railings at every point where they could see. 



At length the bow of the steamer was brought up in an 

 awkward position among the piles at the head of the pier, 

 and a broad plank platform was laid across for the transfer 

 of the baggage on shore. There were no facilities yet for 



