Chapter 7
Traveling The High Seas
“Lunch is about to be served, a steward shouted. He had sandy blond hair, stout in stature, with a full sandy colored beard. You wanna eat? Then you better get below deck and find a spot at the table.”
By the time the Hjerstedts sat down, most of the seats were already occupied. The Andresen’s were nowhere to be seen. Sitting across from them was the Lindberg family from Gardlosa Sweden. His name was August and her name was Louisa. Their son, Charles, was about seven years old and very shy. He kept looking up and staring at Esben but as soon as Esben made eye contact with him, Charles would drop his head again. Corinne had been told that August had left his wife and seven boys, quit his job at the bank and changed his name from Mansson to Lindberg. He was going to America to start a new life with his former mistress, who he now called his wife, and their son.
“Soup here, who’s for soup?
The soup was carried in tin buckets by two burly stewards. It was rather nondescript and made up of rice and a good dose of pepper.
Each passenger then stepped forward with their plates which were heaped with boiled potatoes and slices of coarse and tasteless beef that was so tough, Esben had a difficult time chewing it.
When they finished eating all the passengers gathered their tin ware together and climbed on deck. The sailors directed them to scrape their potato skins and other debris over the ship’s side. The galley cook filled a tub with hot water on the lee deck close by the rail. Here the passengers stood in circles six deep waiting for a chance to rinse their platters. By the time the Hjerstedts arrived, the water was cold and had pieces of potato and meat floating around in the midst of congealed grease. Corinne felt their tin ware ended up dirtier than it was before they put it in the water.
After putting up their tin plates and cups, the Hjerstedts ventured to the foredeck once again to watch the sunset for the last time over Sweden. Pretty soon they could feel the water moving beneath them. They were on their way.
At two bells, signifying the passing of an hour, a sailor approached them and said t is nine o’clock and that Corinne would have to go below deck. No ladies were allowed on deck after nine.
Corinne was tired anyway and she knew that Esben had to be as well.
“Come along and let’s clean up and get ready for bed Esben. Then we will study our English for awhile. Do you want to study too, Gunard?”
“Yes, but you two go ahead, I’ll be along shortly.”
After they left, Gunard sat down on the foredeck. He was feeling a little dizzy and wanted to let the feeling pass before he went below. Here he was, not yet at sea and only twelve hours on ship, and he was sick. This was going to be a very long voyage he thought.