104

ON THE MISSISSIPPI.

in time to sheer off, d^ng no serious\Łamage, unfortunately, but
coming so near it that ^e had good hopes for a moment. These
people brought up their lantern;.'then, of course; and as we backed
and filled to get away, the precious family stood in the light of it—
both sexes and various ages—and cursed us till everything turned
blue. Once a coalboatman sent a bullet through our pilot-house,
when we borrowed a steeling oar of him in a very narrow place.