134:

LIFE ON THE MISSISSIPPI.

quaking from head to foot, and I could have hung my hat on my
eyes, they stuck out so far.

* Quarter less twain ! Nine and a half! '

We were drawing nine ! My hands were in a nerveless nutter.
I could not ring a bell intelligibly with them. I flew to the

* IF YOU LOVE MB, BACK HER.'
speaking-tube and shouted to the
engineer—
* Oh, Ben, 5f you love me, back
her ! Quick, Ben ! Oh, back the
immortal soul out of her ! '
I heard the door close gently. I looked around, and there stood
Mr. Bixby, smiling a bland, sweet smile. Then the audience on the
hurricane deck sent up a thundergust of humiliating laughter. I
saw it all, now, and I felt meaner than the meanest man in human