upon the wharf. I think it is a
travelling carriage.'

'_A quarter to ten_.

'No, it isn't.'

'_Half-past ten_.

The passengers are pouring in every instant. Four omnibuses full have
just arrived upon the wharf, and all is bustle and activity. The noise
and confusion are very great. Cloths are laid in the cabins, and the
steward is placing blue plates--full of knobs of cheese at equal
distances down the centre of the tables. He drops a great many knobs;
but, being used to it, picks them up again with great dexterity, and,
after wiping them on his sleeve, throws them back into the plates. He is
a young man of exceedingly prepossessing appearance--either dirty or a
mulatto, but I think the former.

'An interesting old gentleman, who came to the wharf in an omnibus, has
just quarrelled violently with the porters, and is staggering towards the
vessel with a large trunk in his arms. I trust and hope that he may
reach it in safety; but the board he has to cross is narrow and slippery.
Was that a splash? Gracious powers!

'I have just returned from the deck. The trunk is standing upon the
extreme brink of the wharf, but the old gentleman is nowhere to be seen.
The watchman is not sure whether he went down or not, but promises to
drag for him the first thing to-morrow morning. May his humane efforts
prove successful!

'Professor Nogo has this moment arrived with his nightcap on under his
hat. He has ordered a glass of cold brandy and water, with a hard
biscuit and a basin, and has gone straight to bed. What can this mean?

'The three other scientific gentlemen to whom I have already alluded have
come on board, and have all tried their beds, with the exception of
Professor Woodensconce, who sleeps in one of the top ones, and can't get
into it. Mr. Slug, who sleeps in the other top one, is unable to get out
of his, and is to have his supper handed up by a boy. I have had the
honour to introduce myself to these gentlemen, and we have amicably
arranged the order in which we shall retire to rest; which it is
necessary to agree upon, because, although the cabin is very comfortable,
there is not room for more than one gentleman to be out of bed at a time,
and even he must take his boots off in the passage.

'As I anticipated, the knobs of cheese were provided for the passengers'
supper, and are now in