Read it through once

Finally, above the banging, and rumbling, and shouting, and hissing of steam rang the order to “cast off!”--a sudden rush to the gangways--a scampering ashore of visitors--a revolution of the wheels, and we were off--the pic-nic was begun! Two very mild cheers went up from the dripping crowd on the pier; we answered them gently from the slippery decks; the flag made an effort to wave, and failed; the “battery of guns” spake not--the ammunition was out.