dropped Hecker to the deck and kissed it in all simplicity.

They had many topics of interest to occupy their time; Isaac favored
such as were philosophical and social, his companions were absorbed
by the Tractarian movement, its phases of thought and variety of
persons, and all must have had much to tell of friends and relatives
whom they hoped soon to see members of the Church. One night the
harmony with their fellow-passengers was threatened with rupture.
They were much annoyed by a violent dispute about the Trinity carried
on in the adjoining cabin far into the night. McMaster finally lost
patience, sprang out of bed, rushed among the disputants, and smote
the table with a tremendous blow and shouted _"Silence!"_ His remedy
was efficacious; the theologians scattered and went to bed.

There was a marked difference between Isaac and his companions in
controversial views. All three used their reason with the utmost
activity, but he had travelled into the Church by the road of
philosophy and they by that of history and Scripture. Their
conversation must have been the exchange of intellectual commodities
of very different kinds and for that reason expediting a busy
commerce. They could profit by his bold and original views of
principle and he was in need of their idea of the external integrity
of organized religion. Then, too, they had much to say of the future,
chiefly by way of conjecture, for no member of the order accompanied
them. No one was superior and no superior was needed. As to
devotional exercises each suited himself, kneeling down and saying
his prayers night and morning and at other times, in his own way and
words.

There was also difference in matters of devotion, for Isaac Hecker
had little or no religious training, and as to the traditional forms
of religious practice he was very backward. The others had long since
familiarized themselves with all Catholic usages. Young Walworth
taught young Hecker how to say the rosary and initiated him,
doubtless, into other common practices, which he assumed with the
simplicity and docility of the child of guileless nature that he was.

The ship, as we have said, was bound to London, but our party were
too impatient to wait till the end of the voyage and left her at
Portsmouth in the pilot's boat; the sea was running high, but so were
their spirits, and although the boat was tossed about in a way to
scare a landsman, they gladly went ashore and took the cars to