Colonel Harris's chief joy was that he had earned a
rest, was soon to see the absent members of his family, and to behold the
work of men in Europe.
People crowded the gangway, the same as on a previous occasion when duty
forced him suddenly to leave the "Majestic." It was almost two o'clock;
visitors were no longer admitted to the steamer, except messengers with
belated telegrams, mail, packages, and flowers for the travelers. On
the bridge of the "Campania" stood the uniformed captain and junior
officers. The chief officer was at the bow, the second officer aft. The
captain, notified that all was ready, gave the command, "Let go!" and the
cables were unfastened. The engineer started the baby-engine, which
partially opens the great throttle-valves, the twin-screws began to
revolve, and the "Campania," like an awakened leviathan slowly moved into
the Hudson River. Hundreds on both the pier and steamer fluttered their
handkerchiefs, and through a mist of tears good-byes were exchanged,
till the increasing distance separated the dearest of friends.
For twenty-four hours George Ingram was seen but little on deck. Most of
his time he spent with Carl Siemen, the engineer. The colonel took great
delight as the escort of two appreciative young ladies.
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