erious
proceeding, composed a fitting paragraph for the _Fatti Diversi_ of the
_Osservatore Triestino_, descriptive of the state in which the Guardie
di Polizia should find me floating in the bay, exanimate and too clearly
the prey of a _triste evvenimento_, the driver pulled up once more, and
now beside a steamer. It was the steamer for Venice, he said, in
precisely the tone which he would have used had he driven me directly to
it without blundering. It was breathing heavily, and was just about to
depart; but even in the hurry of getting on board I could not help
noticing that it seemed to have grown a great deal since I had last
voyaged in it. There was not a soul to be seen except the mute steward
who took my satchel, and, guiding me below into an elegant saloon,
instantly left me alone. Here again the steamer was vastly enlarged.
These were not the narrow quarters of the Venice steamer, nor was this
lamp, shedding a soft light on cushioned seats and panelled doors and
wainscotings, the sort of illumination usual in that humble craft. I
rang the small silver bell on the long table, and the mute steward
appeared.

_Was_ this the steamer for Venice?

_Sicuro!_

All that I could do in comment was to sit down; and in the mean time the
steamer trembled, groaned, choked, cleared its throat, and we were under
way.

"The other passengers have all gone to bed, I suppose," I argued
acutely, seeing none of them. Nevertheless, I thought it odd, and it
seemed a shrewd means of relief to ring the bell, and, pretending
drowsiness, to ask the steward which was my state-room.

He replied, with a curious smile, that I could have any of them. Amazed,
I yet selected a state-room, and while the steward was gone for the
sheets and pillow-cases I occupied my time by opening the doors of all
the other staterooms. They were empty.

"Am I the only passenger?" I asked, when he returned, with some anxiety.

"Precisely," he answered.

I could not proceed and ask if he composed the entire crew: it seemed
too fearfully probable that he did.

I now suspected that I had taken passage with the Olandese Volante, but
there was now nothing in the world for it, except to go to bed, and
there, with the accession of a slight sea-sickness, my views of the
situation underwent a total change. I had gone down into the Maelstrom
with the Ancient Mariner,--I was a Manuscript Found in a Bottle!

Coming to the surface about six o'clock A. M., I found