I've a nit to pick: On page 156 Will receives a new bicycle, one with "eleven gear-speeds". I don't want to go into a great deal of detail why, but I don't think so. A typical freewheel was five gears, so double chainrings would give you ten "speeds", and a triple would give you fifteen. Not necessarily all useful, of course.
Good writing, wacky plot, enjoyed the trip rather much.
Some docks were occupied by sleepy argosies... (pg. 248) -- A merchant ship.
...located at the rear of the texas (pg. 261) -- The uppermost deck of an inland or western river steamer. But this is an ocean steamer!