I
lay in my berth in my soaked clothes watching the proceedings of a
gigantic cockroach, and listening, not without amusement, to the
awful groans of a Chinaman, and a "rough customer" from California,
who occupied the next berths.
In the middle of the night the water came in great dashes through
the skylight upon the table, and soon the saloon was afloat to the
depth of from four to six inches. When the "Kilauea" rolled, and
the water splashed in simultaneously, we were treated to vigorous
"douches" in our berths, which soon saturated the pillows,
mattresses, and our clothing. One sea put out the lamp, and a
ship's lantern, making "darkness visible," was swung in its stead.
In an English ship there would have been a great fuss and a great
flying about of stewards, or pretence of mending matters, but when
the passengers shouted for our good steward, the serene creature
came in with a melancholy smile on his face, said nothing, but
quietly sat down on the transom, with his bare feet in the water,
contemplating it with a comic air of helplessness. Breakfast, of
course, could not be served, but a plate was put at one end of the
table for the silent old Scotch captain, who tucked up his feet and
sat with his oilskins and sou'-wester on, while the charming
steward, with trousers rolled up to his knees, waded about,
pacifying us by bringing us excellent curry as we sat on the edges
of our berths, and putting on a sweetly apologetic manner, as if
penitent for the gross misbehaviour of the ship.
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