and packages were being hustled on board with perpetual din. The
younger children were a little awed at first by the noise and
apparent confusion. Mousie kept close to my side, and even Bobsey
clung to his mother's hand. The extended upper cabin had state-rooms
opening along its sides, and was as comfortable as a floating parlor
with its arm and rocking chairs. Here, not far from the great
heater, I established our headquarters. I made the children locate
the spot carefully, and said: "From this point we'll make
excursions. In the first place, Merton, you come with me and see
that all our household effects are together and in good order. You
must learn to travel and look after things like a man."

We spent a little time in arranging our goods so that they would be
safer and more compact. Then we went to the captain and laughingly
told him we were emigrants to Maizeville, and hoped before long to
send a good deal of produce by his boat. We therefore wished him to
"lump" us, goods, children, and all, and deliver us safely at the
Maizeville wharf for as small a sum as possible.

He good-naturedly agreed, and I found that the chief stage of our
journey would involve less outlay than I had expected.

Thus far all had gone so well that I began to fear that a change
must take place soon, in order that our experience should be more
like the common lot of humanity. When at last I took all the
children out on the afterdeck, to remove the first edge of their
curiosity, I saw that there was at least an ominous change in the
weather. The morning had been mild, with a lull in the usual March
winds. Now a scud of clouds was drifting swiftly in from the
eastward, and chilly, fitful gusts began to moan and sigh about us.