11.45 A. M.—The pink rats are deserting the ship.
A tidal wave of dust swept over us, carrying away the life-boat and [118] ]Kirschwasser’s meerschaum pipe with a galloping horse carved on it. Kirschwasser says he won it at a pinochle tournament in Munich, and is crazed by the loss. Nobody else seems to caradam.
The Steward has distributed auto goggles, but the passengers are still unable to see three fingers before their faces.
The Captain has turned the wheel over to the Mate, and has gone among the passengers, striving to reassure them. It seems we are off [119] ]the Axminster Carpet Cleaning Works, beside which Cape Hatteras is a goldfish aquarium.
The sufferings of the passengers baffle description. Everybody feels that this is his last trip on the Wagon. Hennessy Martel has tied another string around his thumb, to remind himself to make it two drinks when he gets off.