Floating City (1904)/Chapter 28
CHAPTER XXVIII.
At noon, Drake had not sent Fabian his seconds to my knowledge, and these were preliminaries which could not be dispensed with, if Drake determined to demand immediate satisfaction. Might we not take hope from this delay? I knew that the Saxon race do not regard a debt of honour as we do, and that duels had almost disappeared from English customs, for, as I have already said, not only is there a severe law against duellists, but, moreover, the public opinion is strongly averse to them. At the same time, in this, which was an uncommon case, the engagement had evidently been voluntarily sought for; the offended had, so to speak, provoked the offender, and my reasonings always tended to the same conclusion, that a meeting between Fabian and Harry Drake was inevitable.
The deck was at this moment crowded with passengers and crew returning from service.
At half-past twelve the observation resulted in the following note:—
Lat. 40° 33′ N.
Long. 66° 24′ W.
Course, 214 miles.
Thus the "Great Eastern" was only 348 miles from Sandy Hook Point, a narrow tongue of land which forms the entrance to the New York harbour; it would not be long before we were in American seas.
I did not see Fabian in his usual place at lunch, but Drake was there, and although talkative, he did not appear to be quite at his ease. Was he trying to drown his fears in wine? I cannot say, but he indulged in bountiful libations with his friends. Several times I saw him leering at me, but insolent as he was, he dared not look me in the face. Was he looking for Fabian among the crowd of guests? I noticed he left the table abruptly before the meal was finished, and I got up immediately, in order to observe him, but he went to his cabin and shut himself up there.
I went up on deck. Not a wave disturbed the calm surface of the sea, and the sky was unsullied by a cloud; the two mirrors mutually reflected their azure hue. I met Doctor Pitferge, who gave me bad news of the wounded sailor. The invalid was getting worse, and, in spite of the 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 Company," carrying passengers from Havre to New York, was expected, but she did not come in sight, and had most likely taken a more northerly course.
Night closed in about half-past seven. As the sun sank below the horizon, the moon grew brighter and for some time hung shining in the heavens. A prayer-meeting, held by Captain Anderson, interspersed with hymns, lasted until nine o'clock.
The day passed without either Captain Corsican or myself receiving a visit from Drake's seconds.