or a boat. Is
it likely one will pass to-night?"

"Sure, massa--sure be a boat dis night. Bossy 'spect a boat from de Red
ribber dis berry night--either de Houma or de Choctuma."

"Good! and now, uncle Sam, if you will find me six feet of level plank,
and promise to rouse me when the boat comes in sight, I shall not grudge
you this half dollar."

The sudden enlargement of the whites of undo Sam's eyes showed the
satisfaction he experienced at the sight of the shining piece of metal.
Without more ado he seized the champagne-bottle that hold the candle;
and, gliding among the boxes and bales, conducted me to a stairway that
led to the second or cabin-deck of the boat. We climbed up, and entered
the saloon.

"Dar, massa, plenty of room--uncle Sam he sorry dar's ne'er a bed, but
if massa could sleep on these yeer coffee-bags, he berry welcome--berry
welcome. I leave dis light wi' massa. I can get anoder for self b'low.
Good night, massa Edward--don't fear I wake you--no fear ob dat."

And so saying, the kind-hearted black set the bottle-candlestick upon
the floor; and, passing down the stair again, left me to my reflections.

With such poor light as the candle afforded, I took a careless survey of
my apartment. There was plenty of room, as uncle Sam had said. It was
the cabin of the old steamboat; and as the partition-doors had been
broken off and carried away, the ladies' cabin, main saloon, and front,
were now all in one. Together they formed a hall of more than a hundred
feet in length, and from where I stood, near the centre, both ends were
lost to my view in the darkness. The state-rooms on each side were
still there, with their green Venetian doors. Some of these were shut,
while others stood ajar, or quite open. The gilding and ornaments, dim
from age and use, adorned the sides and ceiling of the hall; and over
the arched entrance of the main saloon the word "Sultana," in gold
letters that still glittered brightly, informed me that I was now inside
the "carcase" of one of the most famous boats that ever cleft the waters
of the Mississippi.

Strange thoughts came into my mind as I stood regarding this desolate
saloon. Silent and solitary it seemed--even more so I thought than
would some lonely spot in the midst of a forest. The very absence of
those sounds that one is accustomed to hear in such a place--the
grinding of the machinery--the hoarse detonations of the 'scape-pipe--
the voices of men--t