ving his orders, first as we worked out of dock and, afterwards,
in directing the steersman, when we were under way, to notice me; and
seeing him so occupied, of course I did not like to speak to him.

I did not like to talk to Adams either for he was equally busy, besides
which I did not know him then; and the same obstacle prevented my
entering into conversation with the fat man in the oilskin, although I
felt sure he could tell me a lot I wanted to know, I having a thousand
questions simmering in my mind with reference to the ship and her
belongings, and all that was going on around me on board the Silver
Queen, in and on the river, and on either shore.

Still, I had plenty to interest me, even without speaking, my thoughts
being almost too full, indeed, for words; for, the varied and ever-
varying panorama through which we were moving was very new and strange
to one like myself who had never been on board a vessel of any sort
before, never sailed down the river Thames, never before seen in all its
glory that marvellous waterway of all nations.

I was in ecstasies every moment at the world of wonders in which I now
found myself;--the forests of masts rising over the acres of shipping in
the East and West India docks away on our right, looking like the trunks
of innumerable trees huddled together, and stretching for miles and
miles as far as the eye could see; the deafening din of the hammermen
and riveters, hammering and riveting the frames of a myriad iron hulls
of vessels building in the various shipwright yards along the river bank
from Blackwall to Purfleet; the shriek of steam whistles in every key
from passing steamers that seemed as if they would come into collision
with us each moment, they sheered by so dangerously near; the constant
succession of wharfs and warehouses, and endless rows of streets and
terraces on both sides of the stream; the thousands of houses joined on
to other houses, and buildings piled on buildings, forming one endless
mass of massive bricks and mortar, with the river stealing through it
like a silver thread, that reached back, behind, up the stream to where,
in the dim perspective, the dome of Saint Paul's, rising proudly above a
circlet of other church spires, stood out in relief against the bright
background of the crimson sky glowing with the reflection of the setting
sun just sinking in the west,--all making me wonder where the people
came from who lived and toiled in the vast ci