SKETCHES BY THE WAY.

287

head likely to be pulled off; but the tugger marching determinedly
forward, bending to his work, with the rope over his shoulder for
better purchase. Sometimes a child is forgotten and left on the
bank; but never a dog.

The usual river-gossip going on in the pilot-house. Island No. 63
—an island with a lovely * chute/ or passage, behind it in the former

times. They said Jesse Jamie-
son, in the * Skylark/ had a
visiting pilot with him one
trip—a poor old broken-down,
superannuated fellow — left

NEKJBO TRAVELLERS.

him at the wheel, at the foot of 63, to run of? the watch. The
ancient mariner went up through the chute, and down the river
outside ; and up the chute and down the river again; and yet again
and again; and handed the boat over to the relieving pilot, at tiie
end of three hours of honest endeavour, at the same old foot of the
island where he had originally taken the wheel! A darkey on shore