The rudder affords a constant fund of interest when the ship is at her
full speed. The parting and closing water makes incessant forms of
beauty; you may hang over the counter and look down into the wake for
a long time, and not be weary. The swift rush of the water to close
up the furrow made by the keel keeps attention awake: the graceful
sinking of the stern in alternation with the bows, bringing you down
to a level with the waves, then far above them, brings apprehension
enough with it to make a novice question why he has never heard people
who have seen it describe their pleasure. When night has set in and the
phosphoresence happens to be abundant, kaleidoscopes never revealed
such wonders to the eye.