Of course there were plenty of incredulous people who said that it was no good; that it would never be of any use; and that if it were, it would not pay for the fuel consumed.

On the other hand, the enthusiasts held that, eventually, it would be used for everything; that in the air we should have steam balloons; on the sea, steam ships, steam guns, and perhaps steam men to work them; that on land there would be steam coaches driven by steam horses.

Journeys, say they, will be performed in no time, that is, as soon as you start for a place you arrive at it, just like an arrow, that no sooner leaves the bow than you see it stuck in the bull's eye." "In that case," observed Jack, "it will be necessary to do away with respiration, as well as horses." "A Londoner will be able to say to his wife, My dear, I am going to Birmingham to-day, but I will be back to dinner; and if a Parisian lights his cigar at Paris, it will burn till he arrives at Bordeaux." "Holloa, Willis, you have fairly converted Fritz and me into marines at last." "I am only speaking of what will be, not of what is--that makes all the difference you know.

It is expected that there will be steam coaches on every turnpike-road; so that, instead of hiring a post-chaise, you will have to order a locomotive, and instead of postboys, you will to engage an engineer and stoker." "Then, instead of saying, Put the horses to," remarked Jack, "we shall have to say, Get the steam up." "Exactly; and when you go on a pleasure excursion, you will be whisked from one point to another without having time to see whether you pass through a desert or a flower-garden." "What, then, is to become of adventures by the way, road-side inns, and banditti ?" "All to be suppressed." "So it appears," said Jack; "men are to be carried about from place to place like flocks of sheep; perhaps they will invent steam dogs as well to run after stragglers, and bring them into the fold by the calf of the leg.

Your new mode of going a-pleasuring may be a very excellent thing in its way, Willis; but it would not suit my taste." "Probably not; nor mine either, for the matter of that, Master Jack." "At all events," said Fritz, "you would run no danger of being upset on the road." "No; but, by way of compensation, you may be blown up." "True, I forgot that." "This conversation has carried us along another knot," said Jack, opening the log, which he had been appointed to keep; "and now, by your leave, I will read over some of my entries to refresh your memories as to our proceedings.
"March 9th .-- Wind fair and fresh--steered to north-west--a flock of seals under our lee bow--feel rather squeamish.
"10th .-- No wind--fall in with a largish island and four little ones, give them the name of Willis's Archipelago.
"11th .-- A dead calm--sea smooth as a mirror--all of us dull and sleepy.
"12th .-- Heat 90 deg .-- shot a boobie, roasted and ate him, rather fishy--passed the night amongst some reefs.
"13th .-- Same as the 12th, but no boobie.
"14th .-- Same as the 13th.
"Dreadfully tiresome, is it not," said Jack; "no wonder they call this ocean the Pacific." "Alas!" sighed Willis, thinking of the _Nelson_, "it does not always justify the name." "15th .-- Hailed a low island, surrounded with breakers, named it Sophia's Island." "But all these islands have been named half a dozen times already," said Willis.
"Oh, never mind that, another name or two will not break their backs." "16th .-- Current bearing us rapidly to westward--caught a sea cow, and had it converted into pemican.
"17th .-- Shot another boobie, which we put in the pot to remind us that we were no worse off than the subjects of Henry IV.