j£l6 LIFJE OX THE MISSISSIPPI.

the men stop rowing and the yawl drifts with the current. The next
order is, c Stand by with the buoy! ' The moment the shallowest
point is reached, the pilot delivers the order, * Let go the buoy !' and
over she goes. If the pilot is not satisfied, he sounds the place again ;
if he finds better water higher up or lower down, he removes the buoy
to that place. Being finally satisfied, he gives the order, and all the
men stand their oars straight up in the air, in line; a blast from the
boat's whistle indicates that the signal has been seen ; then the men

* SOUNDING-.'
' give way' on their oars and lay the yawl alongside the buoy; the
steamer comes creeping carefully down, is pointed straight at the
buoy, husbands her power for the coming struggle, and presently, at
the critical moment, turns on all her steam and goes grinding and
wallowing over the buoy and the sand, and gains the deep water
beyond. Or maybe she doesn't; maybe she < strikes and swings.1
Then she has to while away several hours (or days) sparring herself
off.