150 LIFE ON THE MISSISSIPPI.
had all been absorbed before. As business freshened, wages climbed
gradually up to two hundred and fifty dollars—the association
figure—and became firmly fixed there; and still without benefiting
a member of that body, for no member was hired. The hilarity
at the association's expense burst all bounds, now. There was no
end to the fun which that poor martyr had to put up with.
However, it is a long lane that has no turning. Winter approached,
business doubled and trebled, and an avalanche of Missouri, Illinois and
Upper Mississippi River boats came pouring down to take a chance in
the New Orleans trade. All of a sudden pilots were in great demand,
and were correspondingly scarce. The time for revenge was come.
It was a bitter pill to have to accept association pilots at last, yet
captains and owners agreed that there was no other way. But none
of these outcasts offered ! So there was a still bitterer pill to be
swallowed : they must be sought out and asked for their services.
Captain------was the first man who found it necessary to take the
dose, and he had been the loudest deiider of the organisation. He
hunted up one of the best of the association pilots and said—
* Well, you boys have rather got the best of us for a little while,
so I'll give in with as good a grace as I can. I've come to hire you;
get your trunk aboard right away. I want to leave at twelve o'clock/
* I don't know about that. Who is your other pilot ?'
' I've got I. S------. Why ?'
* I can't go with him. He don't belong to the association.*
'What!'
'It's so.'
* Do you mean to tell me that you won't turn a wheel with one of
the very best and oldest pilots on the river because he don't belong to
your association ?'
' Yes, I do.'
' Well, if this isn't putting on airs ! I supposed I was doing you
a benevolence \ but I begin to think that I am the party that wants
a favour done. Are you acting under a law of the concern ? *
'Yes.'
* Show it to me.'
So they stepped into the association rooms, and the secretary soon
satisfied the captain, who said—