ome of the passengers, after the halt had
been prolonged a few minutes. "Have we met with any accident?" asked
others when that halt was longer protracted; and "Are we _never_ going
to get on?" asked all parties together, when the delay lengthened to
more than half an hour and there appeared to be no signs of starting.

Finally, when more than the half hour had elapsed, a brake-man satisfied
the eager inquiries of the passengers by the information that a
coal-schooner had attempted to pass through the draw-bridge half a mile
above Peekskill, when the tide was too far spent--that she had managed
to get aground in the draw-bridge, immediately across the track--and
that, consequently, no train could possibly pass until the tide rose
again and released the unfortunate boat, well along towards midnight!
Here was a pleasant predicament, especially for those who, like our
travellers, had connections to make at Albany for the North and West;
and yet, to their credit be it said, that particular couple bore the
delay with wonderful equanimity! It is just possible that both
remembered that they would be together a few hours longer on account of
the accident, and that they were prepared to endure even a longer forced
companionship!

At last the train moved on, but slowly, through the village of
Peekskill, and reached the little creek, under the very edge of the
Highlands, where the accident had occurred. The scene was certainly a
picturesque one, with the grounded boat, the swung draw-bridge, the men
laboring to lighter-off the vessel by unloading the coal, the passengers
crowding and swarming from the cars, the setting sun over the noble
headlands to the West, and the placid river coming out from the dark
shadow of the Highlands and sweeping grandly down to Haverstraw Bay.

It had been arranged that all the passengers by the up-train should
disembark and cross the long bridge over the estuary, on the narrow
strips of plank temporarily laid down for that purpose, so as to be
ready to take the next down-train from Albany, the moment it arrived,
and go back with it;--while the passengers by the down-train would cross
in the same manner and run back with the up-train towards New
York;--thus saving what would otherwise be hours of additional
detention. Then streamed across those planks a most picturesque line of
pedestrians, sturdy men and timid women, each a little afraid of so
narrow a footing over the water, some of the women nerv