The noise, like a giant blanket, smothered all conversation on deck.Hervey braced himself to the vibration of the engines, which took a minute or so after firing to reach their full speed. The Enterprise had not had much recourse to them during the passage. The wind had been favourable. The engines' purpose, explained her captain, was to get them in and out of port against contrary airs (they would have been waiting at Gravesend, still, so strong had been the south-westerlies). The captain was very decided in his opinion, and although a man of scientific bent, he was certain that the wind would ever be the motive power of the high seas, for it failed only rarely, it was health-giving (no one, not even Peto, who was convinced there was more to steam than they saw at present, would laud a sulphurous chimney stack) – and it was free.Hervey was gladdened by the sight of Table Mountain. It had been fifty-four days only – faster than he had first come out with Leviathan, but slower than his return home six months ago.
