Page:Floating City (1904).djvu/186

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138
A FLOATING CITY.

doctor's assurance, it was difficult to think that he could recover.

At four o'clock, a few minutes before dinner, a ship was hailed to larboard. The first officer told me he thought it must be the "City of Paris," one of the finest steamers of the "Inman Company," but he was mistaken, for the steamer coming nearer, sent us her name, which was the "Saxonia," belonging to the "National Steamship Company." For a few minutes the two boats came alongside, within two or three cables' length of each other. The deck of the "Saxonia" was covered with passengers, who saluted us with loud cheers.

At five o'clock another ship on the horizon, but too far off for her nationality to be recognized. This time it was undoubtedly the "City of Paris." This meeting with ships, and the salutation between the Atlantic's visitors, caused great excitement on board. One can understand that as there is little difference between one ship and another, the common danger of facing the uncertain element unites even strangers by a friendly bond.

At six o'clock a third ship appeared, the "Philadelphia," one of the Inman line, used for the transportation of emigrants from Liverpool to New York. We were evidently in frequented seas, and land could not be far off. How I longed to reach it!

The "Europe," a steamer belonging to the "Transatlantic