Varwick-Kenilworth-Coventry-Birmingham-Steel-pens Waiting for remittances-A trip inland-Travelling compa- nions-The country-The towns-A journey on foot-Farm The west of England-Bristol-St. Mary Redcliffe-Sir Wm. CHAPTER XXXΙΙ. CHAPTER XXXΙΙΙ. A coachman-Incidents on the road-Wells-Its palace and THE FOOTPATH AND HIGHWAY. CHAPTER I. "LET go that hawser!" THE VOYAGE. "Ay, ay, sir!" And away bounded the sailors to perform the order so peremptorily uttered. "Give her a turn back, Mr. Smith. Steady, now, steady!" and as the command fell from the captain's lips, the stanch steamship Lafayette moved slowly from her mooring at Pine Street Whart, Philadelphia, and swung gracefully round into the Delaware, amidst the shouts of thousands, and the roar of her own guns. "Stop her!" "Stop her it is, sir!" said the engineer, and there she lay upon the waters motionless. The huge monster appeared as if in the act of drawing a long inspiration before starting upon her untried journey; and, with her head turned seaward, looked as if eager to be moving onward. "Farewell!" "good-by-a happy voyage and prosperous weather!" and such like greetings met the ears of the passengers as many of us were recognized by friends on shore. The halfsmothered adieus of a few were scarcely intelligible; while the tears of the gentler sex flowed freely. Some of those on board half regretted the step they had taken, and wished themselves on land; but there was now no retreat. A tow-boat came along-side, and as we had a bar to cross it was important that we should have her aid. She soon attached her tough cords to our huge ship; and then, all things being in readiness, the final order to "go ahead" was given, and we started upon our voyage across the Atlantic. Handkerchiefs were waved, shouts went up, and "the diapason of the cannonade" mingled its bass with the gruff chorus of more than a thousand human voices. The wharves were black with citizens; and, as the distance was increased between our ship and them, the faces of friends were lost to recognition, and the parting was complete. The tug relaxed her boa-like attachments as soon as we passed the bar; and, as our ship was left to herself, she dashed boldly on her way. I turned to survey my fellow-voyagers; but of the many around me, there was not a single face I knew, or one that knew me. All were strangers, and each occupied with his own thoughts. Some were sad, some shy, some curious about the ship and her rigging, and some disposed to be sociable. The decks were filled with uncoiled ropes, the sailors busy running to and fro, and the pilot quick with his orders. All the officers and men appeared to have plenty to do the passengers nothing. The vessel kept gallantly on her course, with a fair prospect of reaching the capes of Delaware, one hundred and thirty miles below Philadelphia, by morning; but-alas for human anticipations!-a break occurred ere she had completed thirty miles, and in less time than two hours from port she was snugly and quietly at anchor off Wilmington, Delaware, as calmly as if she meant to go to sleep for the night. Curiosity was busy among the passengers as to the cause of detention; but no one could tell. The mates were ignorant of the why. None dared to ask the captain, and the engineers were not visible. The pilot looked unutterable things; the officers joked about waiting for the tide when questioned as to the reasons for stopping; but no satisfaction could be had. The firemen and machinists came up from below at intervals to breathe the fresh air, and they certainly looked as if they wanted cooling, for each one was half roasted. We could hear the clang of hammers in the engine-room, and that was all. A break had evidently occurred; but what it was no one would tell. Some of the passengers began to grow nervous, and talked about leaving the ship; others considered the stoppage an ominous beginning of what would be a perilous voyage; while many cared nothing about the detention |