al satisfaction, the launching
of the boat laden heavily with luggage, on the top of which, like its
presiding genius, sat a burly courier, his gold-banded cap glistening
brightly in the sun. Then came a lighter skiff, in the stern of which
sat a female figure, shaded by a pink parasol. There was another parasol
in the phaeton too--I thought I could even recognise Sir Gordon's figure
in the last boat: but as I looked the sky became suddenly overcast, and
round the rocky point, where but a moment before the whole cliff lay
reflected in the water, there now came splashing waves, tumbling wildly
by, till the whole creek suddenly was covered by them; dark squalls of
wind sweeping over the water, tossing the two boats to and fro, and even
heaving up the huge steamer itself, till her bows were bathed in foaming
cataracts. The suddenness of the tempest--for such it really was--was a
grand and sublime "effect" in such a scene: but I could no longer enjoy
it, as there seemed to be actual danger in the situation of the two
boats, which, from time to time, were hidden between the swelling waves.
At last, but not without a struggle, they reached the packet, and I
could plainly see, by the signs of haste on board, that the captain had
not been a very willing spectator of the scene. The luggage was soon on
board, and the figures of the lighter boat followed quickly after.

Scarcely was this effected when the boats were cast off, and again
the paddle-wheels splashed through the water. The gale at this instant
increased: for no sooner was the steamer's bow to the wind, than the
waves went clean over her, washing her deck from stem to stern, and
dashing in columns of spray over the dark funnel. A great stir and
commotion on deck drew off my attention from the boats; and now I heard
a hoarse voice calling through a speaking-trumpet to those in the boats.
They, however, either did not hear or heed the command, for they rowed
boldly towards the shore, nor once paid any attention to the signals
which, first as a flag, and afterwards as a cannon-shot, the steamer
made for them.

While I was lost in conjecturing what possibly all this might mean, the
vessel once more rounded to her course, and with full steam up breasted
the rolling water, and stood out towards the middle of the lake. A
fisherman just then ran his boat in to land, in a little creek beneath
me, and from him I asked an explanation of the scene.

"It's nothing, Signor, but wha