194 LIFE O& TSS MISSISSIPPI.
fie was & thoroughly inoffensive boy, and I was sorry to see him
come, for I knew Brown would have no pity on him. Brown began,
straightway—
* Here 1 why didn't you tell me we'd got to land at that planta-
tion ? *
*I did tell you, Mr. Brown.1
'It'sa lief'
I said—
* You lie, yourself. He did tell you/
Brown glared at me in unaffected surprise ; and for as much as a
moment he was entirely speechless; then he shouted to me—
* I'll attend to your case in a half a minute!' then to Henry,
* And you leave the pilot-house; out with you!'
It was pilot law, and must be obeyed. The boy started out, and
even had his foot on the upper step outside the door, when Brown,
with a sudden access of fury, picked up a ten-pound lump of coal and
sprang after him; but I was between, with a heavy stool, and I hit
Brown a good honest blow which stretched him out.
I had committed the crime of crimes—I had lifted my hand
against a pilot on duty 1 I supposed I was booked for the peniten-
tiary sure, and couldn't be booked any surer if I went on and squared
my long account with this person while I 3iad the chance; conse-
quently I stuck to him and pounded him with my fists a considerable
time—I do not know how long, the pleasure of it probably made it
seem longer than it really was;—but in the end he struggled free
and jumped up and sprang to the wheel: a very natural solicitude,
lor, all this time, here was this steamboat tearing down the river at
the rate of fifteen miles an hour and nobody at the helm! However,
Eagle Bend was two miles wide at this bank-full stage, mud corre-
spondingly long and deep; and the boat was steering herself straight
down the middle and taking no chances. Stall, that was only luck—
* body v&gkt have found her charging into the woods.
Perceiving, at a glance, that the 'Pennsylvania* was in no danger,
Brown gathered up the big spy-glass, war-club fashion, and ordered
ioe out of the pilot-house with more than Comanche bluster. But
I was aot afraid of hira now; no, instead of going, I tarried, and
cnadsed his grammar; I reforaaed his ferocious speeches for