The advance was delayed only long enough for the
escort to turn, take in the sails--for they went against the wind
now--and form an outer parenthesis. Then with another shout the
triumphant return began.
The other fleet absorbed the attention of each voyager. Every barge
had a new-comer alongside and near enough to talk across the water.
Therefore a great babel and confusion arose in which rational
conversation became impossible. Then vessels essayed to approach
nearer one another and the formation began to break. The right oars of
one boat and the left of another would be withdrawn and the vessels
lashed together. Then they were permitted to drift, with some poling
to keep them in the proper direction. When this proceeding was
impracticable because of the construction of the barges, one boat would
take another in tow until the occupants of one had joined those of the
other by a gang-plank laid from prow to stern. By sunset the
merrymaking had developed into indiscriminate boarding. Only the
vessels of the king and the nomarch and the barge of Senci were not
involved in the uproarious revel that followed. The fates were amiable
and no mishaps occurred in spite of the recklessness of the pastime.
Pages:
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212