UP HELM AND AWAY. 9 



in a saloon, like that in the Havre and Southampton 

 packets, I always take one as much aft as possible, 

 that does for either a couch to lie or sit on, the feet 

 being on the floor of the cabin. So situated, the 

 berth is easily attainable ; and, in reaching or leaving 

 it, there is no chance of making the nose of some half- 

 dead face a stepping-stone to freedom. 



AH being arranged for the night, with the prospect 

 of the finest weather, I whiled away the heavy hours 

 till elevenP.M. by walking the deck and watching the 

 arrival of my fellow-passengers — speculating, as is 

 my custom, on their calling, their motives, their minds, 

 and probable manners ; and resolved to be good- 

 humoured as well as attentive to them all. Oh, how 

 I rejoiced when the evolutions of the wheels began ! 

 and how I lono-ed for the first view of the Havre 

 cliff's, in the gray dawn of morn ! and how I dozed 

 off in dreams of boars at bay and wild-looking 

 wolves — till I was aroused by the passage of a tall, 

 calm, sedate, but go-ahead-looking man, who, with 

 sea-going legs certainly (for he paced as steadily as 

 I should on the floor of my own drawingroom), 

 w^alked leisurely round the saloon, eyeing one berth 

 after the other. When he arrived quite aft, I was 

 sitting on my little couch, my legs on the floor, 

 looking at him ; and, on observing that he still eyed 



