1 Any foreign steamer that fell in our way and would take us up would do.
2 We found that a steamer for Hamburg was likely to suit our purpose best, and we directed our thoughts chiefly to that vessel.
3 The steamer for Hamburg and the steamer for Rotterdam would start from London at about nine on Thursday morning.
4 Whether we should remain at the house until near the steamer's time, which would be about one in the afternoon, or whether we should put off early in the morning, was the question we discussed.
5 We got aboard easily, and rowed out into the track of the steamer.
6 But, it was half-past one before we saw her smoke, and soon afterwards we saw behind it the smoke of another steamer.
7 A stretch of shore had been as yet between us and the steamer's smoke, by reason of the bend and wind of the river; but now she was visible, coming head on.
8 Startop could make out, after a few minutes, which steamer was first, and gave me the word "Hamburg," in a low voice, as we sat face to face.
9 But, the Rotterdam steamer now came up, and apparently not understanding what had happened, came on at speed.
10 He told me that he believed himself to have gone under the keel of the steamer, and to have been struck on the head in rising.
11 I feel as if, coming to you, I had landed on a peaceful shore after the noise and jolting of a steamer.
12 I left in a French steamer, and she called in every blamed port they have out there, for, as far as I could see, the sole purpose of landing soldiers and custom-house officers.
13 I had my passage on a little sea-going steamer.
14 I had my shoulders against the wreck of my steamer, hauled up on the slope like a carcass of some big river animal.
15 The steamer toiled along slowly on the edge of a black and incomprehensible frenzy.