The ship was all decked with flags,
and altogether there was le diable a quatre.
The consequence was,
that three signals went adrift in the scuffle; and when a Frenchman
signalled us, we had to pass for brutaux Anglais, because we could
not reply. I found means to supply the deficiency by the lining of
that very ancient anonymous cloak, which did the red, while a
bandanna handkerchief of the Captain's furnished the yellow, to the
sailmaker's immense amusement. On him I bestowed the blue outside
of the cloak for a pair of dungaree trowsers, and in signalling now
it is, 'up go 2.41, and my lady's cloak, which is 7.'
We have had lovely weather, and on Sunday such a glorious farewell
sight of Table Mountain and my dear old Hottentot Hills, and of
Kaap Goed Hoop itself. There was little enough wind till
yesterday, when a fair southerly breeze sprang up, and we are
rolling along merrily; and the fat old Camperdown DOES roll like an
honest old 'wholesome' tub as she is. It is quite a bonne fortune
for me to have been forced to wait for her, for we have had a
wonderful spell of fine weather, and the ship is the ne plus ultra
of comfort. We are only twelve first-class upper-deck passengers.
The captain is a delightful fellow, with a very charming young
wife. There is only one child (a great comfort), a capital cook,
and universal civility and quietness.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 137 of 141
Words from 36671 to 36929
of 37925
