Viewing page 199 of 745

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

174

and systemless streaks of salmon, green, and blue. Everywhere - all over - to the tips of the masts, to the waterline, from the muzzles to the bases of the ^[[3 and 6 inch]] [[strikethrough]] 6" and [[/strikethrough]]guns mounted on the decks. The day was drizzly and there was no commotion about the sailing other than the clustering of a number of the passengers about a Dutchmans' Candy and magazine truck near the aft gangplank.

We were due to leave at high noon and hours before that time a few cocky little tugs sneaked into the slip and nosed warmly against the larger hulk. After an unknown delay the raucous bellow of the siren sounded at 1:20 and we backed out into the River while ferries, tugs, and barges held off and silently payed us homage.

Not being allowed on deck we stood inside the cabin door and with few words between us