In the midst of all this turmoil there was an incessant roar from every
packet's funnel, which quite expressed and carried out the uppermost
emotion of the scene. They all appeared to be perspiring and bothering
themselves, exactly as their passengers did; they never left off
fretting and chafing, in their own hoarse manner, once; but were always
panting out, without any stops, 'Come along do make haste I'm very
nervous come along oh good gracious we shall never get there how late
you are do make haste I'm off directly come along!'
Even when they had left off, and had got safely out into the current,
on the smallest provocation they began again; for the bravest packet
of them all, being stopped by some entanglement in the river, would
immediately begin to fume and pant afresh, 'oh here's a stoppage what's
the matter do go on there I'm in a hurry it's done on purpose did you
ever oh my goodness DO go on here!' and so, in a state of mind bordering
on distraction, would be last seen drifting slowly through the mist into
the summer light beyond, that made it red.
Tom's ship, however; or, at least, the packet-boat in which Tom and his
sister took the greatest interest on one particular occasion; was not
off yet, by any means; but was at the height of its disorder.
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