king that they must be tired from having been up so late the night
before, concluded to let them sleep as long as possible. While they were
sleeping, the waiters on board the ship were all employed in carrying up
trunks, and boxes, and carpet bags, and bundles of canes and umbrellas,
from all the state rooms, and spreading them about upon the decks, where
the custom-house officers could examine them. The decks soon, of course,
presented in every part very bustling and noisy scenes. Passengers were
hurrying to and fro. Some were getting their baggage together for
examination; some were unstrapping their trunks; and others, having
unstrapped theirs, were now fumbling in their pockets, in great
distress, to find the keys. It is always an awkward thing to lose a
trunk key; but the most unfortunate of all possible times for meeting
with this calamity is when a custom-house officer is standing by,
waiting to examine what your trunk contains. Those who could not find
their keys were obliged to stand aside and let others take their turn.
As fast as the trunks were inspected, the lid of each was shut down, and
it was marked with chalk; and then, as soon as it was locked and
strapped again, a porter conveyed it to the tug, where the owner
followed it, ready to go on shore.

In the midst of this scene the captain came on deck, and began to look
around for the children whom he had promised to take care of. He made
some inquiries for them, and at length was told that they had gone
ashore.

"At least, I _think_ they have gone," said his informant. "I saw Mr.
Holiday's coachman here, inquiring for them, a short time ago. And he
seems to be gone. I presume he has taken them ashore."

"He can't have taken them ashore," said the captain. "There is nothing
to go ashore till this tug goes. However, I presume he has got them
under his charge somewhere."

So the captain dismissed the subject from his mind; and after remaining
a few minutes on deck, and seeing that every thing was going on well, he
went below into his state room, in order to write a letter to the owners
of the ship, to inform them of the safe termination of the voyage.

It was about this time that the chambermaid waked Rollo and Jennie. They
rose immediately, and were soon dressed. On going up upon the deck, they
were somewhat surprised to witness the bustling scenes that were
enacting there; and they stood for a few minutes surveying the various
groups, and watching wit