90 LIFE ON THM MISSISSIPPI.
world before, I fancy. Amidst the frenzy of thft bells the engineb
began to back and fill in a furious way, and my reason forsook its
throne—we were about to crash into the woods on the other side of the
river. JYst then Mr. Bixby stepped calmly into view on the hurricane
deck. My soul went out to him in gratitude. My distress vanished;
I would have felt safe on the brink of Niagara, with Mr. Bixby on the
hurricane deck. He blandly and sweetly took his tooth-pick out of
his mouth between his fingers, as if it were a cigar—we were just in
the act of climbing an overhanging big tree, and the passengers were
scudding astern like rats—and lifted up these commands to me ever
so gently—
* Stop the starboard. Stop the larboard. Set her back on both/
The boat hesitated, halted, pressed her nose among the boughs a
critical instant, then reluctantly began to back away
e Stop the larboard. Gome ahead on it. Stop the starboard. Come
ahead on it. Point her for the bar.'
I sailed away as serenely as a summer's morning. Mr. Bixby
came in and said, with mock simplicity—
* When you have a hail, my boy, you ought to tap the big bell
three times before you land, so that the engineers can get ready.'
I blushed under the sarcasm, and said I hadn't had any hail.
* Ah ! Then it was for wood, I suppose. The officer of the watch
will tell you when he wants to wood up.'
I went on consuming and said I wasn't after wood.
' Indeed ? Why, what could you want over here in the bend, then t
Did you ever know of a boat following a bend up-stream at this stage
of the river ?
* No, sir,—and / wasn't trying to follow it, I was getting away
from a bluff reef.'
fi No, it wasn't a bluff reef; there isn't one within three miles of
where you were.'
* But I saw it. It was as bluff as that one yonder/
* Just about. Run over it 1 *
* Do you give it as an order ?'
* Yes. Run over it/
* If I don't, I wish I may die.
All right; I am taking the responsibility/