"Nor I," said Mr. Urquhart. "But I believe he's going to try it this voyage anyhow. Good-night, you fellows; I'm going to turn in."
Early next morning several bunder-boats came alongside. The bunder-boats of Bombay, I may mention, are the most convenient water-carriages possible, and very suitable for the wet and blowy weather prevailing in the monsoon. They are large, roomy boats, with a covered-in cabin in the after-part, capable of holding four or five people comfortably. They are rigged with two short masts and a patémar, or lateen sail, and carry a strong crew. The first passengers to appear were two ladies, two children, and an ayah. These proved to be Mrs. Woodruff, her sister Miss Reed, and her two children, the lady having been ordered home from Allahabad, where her husband's regiment was stationed, on account of her health. A captain and subaltern of the same regiment, invalided; then two officers, Captains Thompson and Shaw, from Poonah, with their wives, going home on furlough; a professor from the university, named Spiller; and two more ladies, wives of civil servants, made up the number. While the fourth officer was busy looking after the baggage,[!-- [Pg 208] --] and before he had well got it out of the gangway, the quartermaster of the watch called out—
"Look out, sir; captain's coming alongside."
"Shove that bunder-boat off, out of the way! Clear the gangway there!" and in another minute the Serampore's white gig flashed up alongside, and Captain Skeed sprang up the accommodation ladder.
All of us on deck saluted him, and turning hastily to the chief officer, he asked—
"Have you ordered steam, Mr. Urquhart, for nine o'clock?"
"Yes, sir."
"The ship appears to be down by the stern. Isn't she, Mr. Urquhart?"
"I believe she is, sir, a little. The carpenter hasn't given me the draught this morning."
"She appeared to me, as I pulled off in my gig, to be eight or nine inches at least, if not more."