LttE av THE MISSISSIPPI.

CHAPTER XXIV.
MY INCOGNITO IS EXPLODED.
APTBB a dose study of the face of the pilot on watch, I was satisfied
that I had never seen him before; so I went up there. The pilot
inspected me ; I re-inspected the pilot. These customary preliminaries
over, I sat down on the high bench, and he faced about and went on
with his work. Every detail of the pilot-house was familiar to me,
with one exception,—a large-mouthed tube under the breast-board.
I puzzled over that thing a considerable time; then gave up and asked
what it was for,
* To hear the engine-bells through/
It was anotiher good contrivance which ought to have been in-
vented half a century sooner. So I was thinking, when the pilot
asked—
* Do you know what this rope is for ? *
I managed to get around this question, without committing
myself.
* Is this the first time your were ever in a pilot-house ? *
I crept under that one.
* Where are you from f *
* Hew England/
* First time you have ever been West t *
X climbed over this one.
* If you take an Interest in such things, I can tell you what all
tbeee tfeings are for/
I said I should like it.
* HUB,' putting his hand on * backing-bell rope, * is to sound the
fire-alarm ; tins,' {ratting his hand on a go-ahead bell, ' is to call the