was so that when they were launched they might go
down in the middle of the channel, and not strike the bank on the
opposite side.

"We met a great many steamers coming up. One I thought had just been
launched. She was full of workmen. There were a great many women running
along on the bank, where it was green, trying to keep up with her. They
were almost all barefooted. I suppose they had been down to see her
launched. I wish we had been a little sooner.

"When I came down from the bridge I looked into the hold to see the
engine. I wanted to go down, but I was afraid that Rollo would call it
a careless thing. Besides, I could see pretty well where I was. There
were three cylinders. Two acted alternately, and the other at the half
stroke. I thought this was a very good plan; for now the engine never
can get on a poise. All these cylinders were inclined. The boiler was
perpendicular. I never saw one like it before.

"After a while we got below the ship yards, and then there was nothing
more to see, only some green grounds, and some mountains, and a castle
on a rock. Then we landed at Greenock, and came home by the railroad.
But Rollo is going to write about this.

"The most careless thing that Rollo did was that he came very near
leaving his umbrella on board the boat at Greenock."

* * * * *

Rollo's account of the excursion was as follows:--

"EXCURSION ON THE CLYDE.

"Waldron and I went down the Clyde. We went on board the boat at the
Broomielaw, in Glasgow.

"The first thing I observed was that a Scotchman and two boys came on
board with violins and a flageolet, and began to play to amuse the
company. At first I could not hear very well, the steampipe made such a
noise. Afterwards, when the pipe stopped blowing off the steam, I could
hear better, and I liked the music very well.

"By and by one of the boys came round to collect some money, and I put
in a penny. I told Waldron that I thought he need not put in any thing,
as he did not listen.

"There was a boat came off from the shore, and a man got out of it, and
came on board our steamer just as we used to go on board the steamers on
the Rhine. I wish we could go and travel on the Rhine again.

"When we got below the ships and ship yards we came to a part of the
river where there were parks and pleasure grounds on the banks, and
beautiful houses back among the trees.

"When we got half way down we stopped at a