paddle-boxes.

'Go on!' echoed the boy, who was stationed over the hatchway to pass the
directions down to the engineer; and away went the vessel with that
agreeable noise which is peculiar to steamers, and which is composed of a
mixture of creaking, gushing, clanging, and snorting.

'Hoi-oi-oi-oi-oi-oi-o-i-i-i!' shouted half-a-dozen voices from a boat, a
quarter of a mile astern.

'Ease her!' cried the captain: 'do these people belong to us, sir?'

'Noakes,' exclaimed Hardy, who had been looking at every object far and
near, through the large telescope, 'it's the Fleetwoods and the
Wakefields--and two children with them, by Jove!'

'What a shame to bring children!' said everybody; 'how very
inconsiderate!'

'I say, it would be a good joke to pretend not to see 'em, wouldn't it?'
suggested Hardy, to the immense delight of the company generally. A
council of war was hastily held, and it was resolved that the newcomers
should be taken on board, on Mr. Hardy solemnly pledging himself to tease
the children during the whole of the day.

'Stop her!' cried the captain.

'Stop her!' repeated the boy; whizz went the steam, and all the young
ladies, as in duty bound, screamed in concert. They were only appeased
by the assurance of the martial Helves, that the escape of steam
consequent on stopping a vessel was seldom attended with any great loss
of human life.

Two men ran to the side; and after some shouting, and swearing, and
angling for the wherry with a boat-hook, Mr. Fleetwood, and Mrs.
Fleetwood, and Master Fleetwood, and Mr. Wakefield, and Mrs. Wakefield,
and Miss Wakefield, were safely deposited on the deck. The girl was
about six years old, the boy about four; the former was dressed in a
white frock with a pink sash and dog's-eared-looking little spencer: a
straw bonnet and green veil, six inches by three and a half; the latter,
was attired for the occasion in a nankeen frock, between the bottom of
which, and the top of his plaid socks, a considerable portion of two
small mottled legs was discernible. He had a light blue cap with a gold
band and tassel on his head, and a damp piece of gingerbread in his hand,
with which he had slightly embossed his countenance.

The boat once more started off; the band played 'Off she goes:' the major
part of the company conversed cheerfully in groups; and the old gentlemen
walked up and down the deck in pairs, as perseveringly and gravely as if
they were doing a match