Three o’clock
` _ Twenty minutes before two _ . ` I have at length been enabled to ascertain that the tin tube contains a few yards of some celebrated plaster , recommended -- as I discover on regarding the label attentively through my eye-glass -- as a preservative against sea-sickness . Mr. Slug has cut it up into small portions , and is now sticking it over himself in every direction . ' ` _ Three o'clock _ . ` Precisely a quarter of an hour ago we weighed anchor , and the machinery was suddenly put in motion with a noise so appalling , that Professor Woodensconce -LRB- who had ascended to his berth by means of a platform of carpet-bags arranged by himself on geometrical principals -RRB- darted from his shelf head foremost , and , gaining his feet with all the rapidity of extreme terror , ran wildly into the ladies ' cabin , under the impression that we were sinking , and uttering loud cries for aid . I am assured that the scene which ensued baffles all description . There were one hundred and forty-seven ladies in their respective berths at the time .