dent."

"Ah, I thought we should be able to sail to-day, Gregory!"

"Humph!" said the first-mate. "I'll trouble you for a little more of
that fried ham, Captain Strong. Good ham, young Strong. I recommend
it."

Mark was already paying attention to it, and, well rested as he was,
thoroughly enjoyed his novel meal, and was soon after as eagerly
feasting upon the various sights and sounds of the deck.

For the next four hours all was busy turmoil. Passengers were arriving
with their luggage marked "For use in cabin," last packages of cargo
were being received, a couple of van-loads of fresh vegetables were shot
down upon the deck as if some one was about to start a green-grocer's
shop on the other side of the world, and the state of confusion
increased to such a degree that it seemed to Mark that order could never
by any possibility reign again. Wheels squeaked as ropes ran through
tackle, iron chains clanged; there was a continuous roaring of orders,
here, there, and everywhere; and at last, when the time for going out of
dock arrived, the deck was piled up in all directions with cargo and
luggage, and every vacant place was occupied by passengers, their
friends, dock people, and crew.

It seemed impossible for the tall three-masted ship to get out of that
dock through the narrow gates ahead and into the crowded river; but,
just about one o'clock, a man in blue came on board and took charge,
began shouting orders to men on the quay, ropes were made fast here and
there and hauled upon, and the great ship was in motion.

Before many minutes had elapsed she had glided majestically into a
narrow canal with stone walls, and from the high stern deck Mark saw
that a pair of great gates were closed behind them, as if the ship had
been taken in a trap. But no sooner was this achieved than another pair
of gates was opened before her bows, and the slow gliding motion was
continued till, almost before he knew it, the _Black Petrel_ East
Indiaman, Captain Strong, outward-bound for Colombo, Singapore, and
Hong-Kong, was out in the river without having crushed any other craft.

As she swung out there in the tide, a large unwieldy object which
threatened to come in contact with one or other of the many ships and
long black screws lying in the river, all of a sudden a little, panting,
puffing steamer came alongside and, amidst more shouting, ropes were
thrown and she was made fast, while another appeared off the _Black
Petre