Part 1 (2/2)
They put up at the Railway Hotel, which Cousin Giles said ree court glazed over, with an ottohts of stairs on either side leading to the upper chae and co was to visit the steae to Saint Petersburg She was a gaily-painted, sharp-built, fast-looking screw
”She'll carry us there quickly enough, if at all,” muttered Cousin Giles ”But she's not the craft I should have chosen”
She had only a so on board, and yet theThe boys were incredulous
”Modern cranes, system, and activity onders,” said Cousin Giles; and he was right
By nine o'clock the nextthe vessel was ready to sail They spent the interi about the docks, full of vessels of all nations,--sixteen stea,--in looking at the quaint old houses of the town, and in visiting the monument raised to Wilberforce,--a lofty pillar, the first object which greets the mariner as he returns horo Emancipation, 1832”
”How far more worthy was he of the pillar than most people who have monuments raised to them; and yet hoould have despised such an honour, unless it induces others to labour as he did for the benefit of their fellow-creatures,” remarked Cousin Giles ”Remereat ers on board the _Ladoga_, and, afterdown the Humber
Cousin Giles face wore an expression of dissatisfaction as he found her deck croith huge, heavy iron ; we are often obliged to carry twice as reat, wetoup, it is your underwriters would have to pay, I suspect,” answered Cousin Giles
”Oh, you don't knohat this vessel would go through,” replied the young master
”Huo to if you did not heave all this deck lumber overboard”
”I presume you have been to sea before?” said the master
”At tie quantities of machinery of all sorts to Russia The cotton had come from America to Liverpool, had been thence sent across the country by railway to Hull, and was going to supply nuoods which have been established in Russia, and fostered by high protective duties They are chiefly lish or Gerland, as is the expense of erecting the buildings; but, as all other items cost much oods they use Even with the high duties ilish manufactures cheaper than their own
In addition to the cargo on deck, there were twelve fine horses which an English grooure at the approaching coronation of the Elish horses, and erooms, many of whom raise themselves to respectable situations, as had the e of the horses in question
There were several other passengers, solish merchants who had resided in Russia for ained a considerable amount of valuable information This Cousin Giles had particularly the art of eliciting from his co it down The cabins and saloon were both coany, had gilt s, and the sofas which surrounded it were covered with cool, clean, antibilious-looking chintz, while in the centre there was a sociable table, with a skylight overhead Everything, also, was provided by the young ers
On the afternoon of the day they sailed, the sky looked wildish, and the nosticated either wind or heavy rain A thunder-stor flashed vividly, but scarcely a mutter of the clouds' artillery was heard; some heavy showers fell, then the weather cleared up The stars shone forth brightly fro ht on the calm water, over which the breeze played with just sufficient strength to crisp it into silvery wavelets It was a night for meditation and prayer Unhappy is the state of man who can look forth froratitude to the Franificent firmament above him,--whom it does not make more meditative, more prayerful, than his wont,--whom it does not cause to think of eternity
The next day a bright silvery fog hung over the sea, yet so dense that no eye could pierce the bowsprit's length through it The engines were therefore put at half their power, yet even then the vessel went nearly seven knots through the water
The lads were delighted with the slided on They remarked it to Cousin Giles
”You think it is very pleasant, because you see no danger, my dear boys,” he answered ”Much the sa, while they shrink with fear from the storm of adversity Now, 'a wise seaman dreads a cal far ales of wind in the open ocean' Put that down in your log,--it is worth re, as the lesson you have learned fro”
CHAPTER TWO
Cousin Giles finds an old shi+p's Account of the Wreck of the _Victoria_--Miraculous Escape of Part of the Crew--God's merciful Providence displayed--Cousin Giles converses with the Crew-- First Sight of Denen-- Description of the Battle and its Cause--Sunday Service on board shi+p--Voyage up the Baltic--The Gulf of Finland--Cronstadt and its Batteries--Why the British did not take the a shi+p in a Hurry--The Russian Fleet--Leave their Stea
Cousin Giles soon found his way forward, over the bales of cotton and piles of hay, followed by Fred and Harry, and entered into conversation with the crew He had not been long there when an old weather-beaten sea I thought that I had caught sight of the face of an old shi+p out his hand ”How fares it with you?”
The old rasp warmly