144 LIFE ON THE MISSISSIPPI.

in the easy water and gaining steadily; she began to make for an
island chute j Stephen stuck to the middle of the river. Speech was
' from the captain. He said—

' Mr. W-----, don't that chute cut off a good deal of distance ?'

c I think it does, but I don't know.'

TO WHISTLING-.

' Don't know ! Well, isn't there water enough in it now to go
through 1'
' I expect there is, but I am not certain.'
' Upon my word this is odd! Why, those pilots on that boat
yonder are going to try it. Do you mean to say that you don't know
as much as they do ?'
* They I Why, they are two-hundred-and-fifty-dollar pilots! But