198 LZFM ON THE MISSISSIPPI
ended. I thought I would go and hide somewhere till I got a chance
to slide ashore. So I slipped out of the pilot-house, and down, the
steps, and around to the texas door—and was in the act of gliding
within, when the captain confronted me 5 I dropped my head, and he
stood over me in silence a moment or two, then said impressively—
c Follow me/
I dropped into his wake; he led the way to his parlour in the
forward end of the texas. We were alone, now. He closed the after
door; then moved slowly to the forward one and closed that. He
sat down; I stood before him. He looked at me some little time,
then said—
* So you have been fighting, Mr. Brown 1 *
I answered meekly—
* Yes, sir/
* I>o you know that that is a very serious matter ? *
* Yes, sir/
* Are you aware that this boat was ploughing down the river fully
Sve minutes with no one at the wheel ?'
' Yes, sir/
* Did you strike bim first ?'
* Yes, sir/
'Whatwithr
* A stool, sir/
'Hard*'
* Middling, sir/
* Did it knock him down $'
* He—lie fell, sir/
* Did you follow it up 1 Did you do anything further ? *
'Yes, sir/
* What did you dot*
* Pounded him, sir**
* Pounded him!'
* Yes, sir/
* Did you pound him much 1—that is, severely 1'
* One might call it that, sir, maybe.*
* Fm deuced glad of it! Hark ye, never mention that I said that.
You have been guilty of a great crime; and don't you ever be guilty