The people sitting upon camp-stools, rolled over
and about in all directions. The ship was
immovable, happily for us and our carpet-bags;
for as long as the sharp rock she had struck upon
remained in the hole it had made, the water
entered but slowly. Still, we were as if you
were balancing a toy-boat on the tip of your
finger.

"I looked at the captain. He was stamping
his feet and tearing his hair, but only for a
moment. He soon recovered from his
surprise, and giving a tighter twitch to his scarlet
sash, addressed himself with the greatest intelligence
to doing the best that could be done under
the circumstances. Some ladies came screaming
up from the saloon, naturally alarmed by the
breaking up of the flooring, and the fountain of
water springing up among the flowers on the
carpet; but they were greatly relieved to find
how near they were to a hospitable shore, being
within that particular distance usually described
by ' as far as I can kick my hat.'

"The captain ordered round the boats (they
had been ' out' in readiness all day), and the
debarkation of the ' women and children'
commenced instanter. In about ten trips, and in as
many minutes, the passengers and crew were all
safe on shore— all but the captain, who stuck
gallantly to the ship. He sent everything
movable out of her, had the carpets torn up,
and indeed saved everything—except the ship
and the engines. There was great excitement
among the unfortunate shareholders at
Geneva. They sent off immediately three
of ' the company' to inquire into the
circumstances of the accident, to report upon
the same, and to administer a reprimand to
the captain, if deserved. While they were holding
a solemn and anxious meeting at Geneva, a
letter was received from the three delegates, full
of enthusiastic admiration of the ' resource and
intelligence' of the captain under extraordinary
difficulties.

"They had evidently gone over to the
enemy, and succumbed under the influence
of his genial countenance. ' His efforts,' they
said, ' were superhuman, his energy untiring.
Night and day he worked and directed with
every hope of success.' In a postscript was
added, that the ' shareholders might rest
assured that every care would be taken of the
captain, and that he was supplied with
everything that he could possibly require to soften,
as far as might be, the great misfortune that
had befallen him. A pair of goloshes had just
been returned to them with the captain's best
thanks, but the water being two feet above the
deck, they were unnecessary.' ' The company '
groaned at the forlorn picture.

"For a week the captain and his staff
worked without intermission. An enormous
raft of wood encircled the scene of his
disasters and his labours. At last the little
Seagull rose several feet out of water, and that
night the captain went on shore to take some
rest. Poor man, he slept the sleep of the wet
and weary. He dreamed that he was swimming
for his life with his head under water (the
normal state of his affairs in the flesh); in his
efforts to breathe he awoke, and found himself
upon the floor. He was off at daylight to the
scene of his triumphs, and, in the joy of his
heart, sent to invite the delegates to breakfast
on board.

"In about three weeks, passed in the
alternations of hope and fear, the steam-boat fairly
floated. To be sure, she was full of water, her
back and ribs were broken, she had scarcely a
whole bone in her body; but still she floated,
and, supported by a little forest of fir-trees without,
and a cargo of timber within, ' the com-
pany ' cherished every hope of being able on
a calm day to tow her back to Geneva. Some
rough weather postponed the attempt for some
days days— passed by our friend in triumphant
glee. He was fêted by the shareholders, and
all along the shores of Lake Leman nothing
was heard of but the genius for hydraulics
developed in the Unlucky Captain. He
received very graciously a deputation of ship-
builders, was appointed to this splendid boat
with increased pay, and was presented with a
silken banner, federal-embroidered by ladies:
the very banner now waving above us.

"At the end of a week the weather moderated.
The steam-tug crept up the lake, and made fast
to our crippled friend, ' and all went merry
as a marriage bell ' (one naturally quotes Byron
here). The voyage might take seven or eight
hours. The dear old captain was in the highest
spirits; he could not remain in the dirty little
tug, but rowed merrily round and about his old
disabled love, as if to keep up her spirits with
his own; when, swoop, came a blast of wind
down that terrific gorge we are just passing! In
five minutes the whole lake was up. The
captain sought refuge in the tug; and the poor little
Seagull, after twirling and twisting, the sport
of winds and waves, shook herself free from the
protecting fir-trees, and settled, down at the
bottom of the lake. The tug cast off the
firewood at the captain's stern command.
' The company,' awaiting in a body the arrival
of the wreck, were touched by the
captain's agitation and distress. He really was
knocked up in body and mind, so they took him
home, and coaxed him into health and appetite
(the last thing that fails a true son of Tell), and,
presenting him with a testimonial, sent him
afloat again."

"The question is whether we shall float,"
growled a nervous passenger; " why does
that ass of a tourist occupy the captain's
attention?"

"Oh," said my friend, "don't be alarmed
about that. I forgot to tell you that ' the
company ' held a meeting—closed doors, and all that—
and when they reappointed the captain, they
also appointed a lieutenant: that fellow standing
on the paddle-box. He is to direct the
steersman, and in fact has the entire charge of
the navigation. The captain being requested,
' as a favour to the company,' to take his stand
at the gangway, at the exit and entrance of