The weight of these combined articles was of little consequence, but I positively declare that I never handled a more inconvenient lot of baggage.

While I was descending a perpendicular ladder to a small boat, some one abruptly asked if that lot of baggage had been cleared at the custom house.
Think of walking through a custom house with my portable property! Happily the question did not come from an official.
It required at least an hour to get everything in readiness after we were on board.

Then followed the leave taking of friends who had come to see us off and utter their wishes for a prosperous voyage and safe return.

The anchor rose slowly from the muddy bottom; steam was put upon the engines, and the propeller whirling in the water, set us in motion.

The gang-way steps were raised and the rail severed our connection with America.
It was night as we glided past the hills of San Francisco, spangled with a thousand lights, and left them growing fainter in the distance.
Steaming through the Golden Gate we were soon on the open Pacific commencing a voyage of nearly four thousand miles.