We were taking an early dinner at this house，on the day after our arrival，which was Sunday，when a steamboat came in sight，and presently touched at the wharf．As she proved to be on her way to Buffalo，we hurried on board with all speed，and soon left Sandusky far behind US．
She was a large vessel of five hundred tons，and handsomely fitted up，though with high—pressure engines；which always conveyed that kind of feeling to me，which I should be likely to experience，I think，if I had lodgings on the first floor of a powder mill．She was laden with flour．some casks of which commodity were stored upon the deck．The captain coming up to have a little conversation，and to introduce a friend，seated himself astride of one of these barrels，like a Bacchus of private life：andpulling a great clasp-knife out of his pocket，began tO“whittle’’it ashe talked，by paring thin slices off the edges．And he whittled with suchindustry and hearty good—will，that but for his being called away very soon，it must have disappeared bodily，and left nothing in its place butgrist and shavings．