That look was not lost
on the wary Wragge. He shifted his indicative camp-stool from the left
hand to the right, and opened his scientific batteries on the spot.
"A busy scene, Mrs. Lecount," said the captain, politely waving his
camp-stool over the sea and the passing ships. "The greatness of
England, ma'am--the true greatness of England. Pray observe how heavily
some of those vessels are laden! I am often inclined to wonder whether
the British sailor is at all aware, when he has got his cargo on board,
of the Hydrostatic importance of the operation that he has performed.
If I were suddenly transported to the deck of one of those ships (which
Heaven forbid, for I suffer at sea); and if I said to a member of the
crew: 'Jack! you have done wonders; you have grasped the Theory of
Floating Vessels'--how the gallant fellow would stare! And yet on that
theory Jack's life depends. If he loads his vessel one-thirtieth part
more than he ought, what happens? He sails past Aldborough, I grant you,
in safety. He enters the Thames, I grant you again, in safety. He gets
on into the fresh water as far, let us say, as Greenwich; and--down he
goes! Down, ma'am, to the bottom of the river, as a matter of scientific
certainty!"
Here he paused, and left Mrs.
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