“C. Q.”; or, In the Wireless House
Jersey side the congestion was as great, but of a somewhat lower order, and more smoky. The glittering surface of the river was covered with swiftly moving boats and launches which projected themselves in all directions with the velocity and manner of water beetles on a mud pond. The air was charged with a deep uproar in which mingled the whistles of factories, locomotive engines, freighters and ocean liners, their tones rising from the deep diapason of the leviathan to the shrill scream of the motor boat. Even half a mile from shore the air was electric with the thrill and bustle of lower Broadway. The island irradiated good nature.
The whole ship’s company experienced an elevation of spirit. Tongues carefully restrained for fear of encouraging undesirable acquaintanceships were loosened to chatter recklessly with persons whose only claim to recognition was that they had been upon the same boat for fourteen days. The little hunchback was hobbling around everywhere, thanking people for having been so kind to him. First and second cabin alike massed themselves forward striving to distinguish through inferior glasses relatives or friends supposed to be awaiting274
