ween us which prevented me even seeing the hulking shadow of
the craft. Judging from the sound, however, it was easy to determine
that the heavy boat was traveling much faster than I, and was steadily
passing me, close in against the dense shadow of the southern shore.
With silent strokes I waited patiently, until the steady chugging of
the engine grew faint in the distance, and then finally ceased entirely.

I was alone in the grasp of the waters, wrapped in the night silence,
both shores veiled beneath the dense shadows; every dim outline had
vanished, and I realized that the swift current had already swept me
into the broad Mississippi. Uncertain in that moment which way to
turn, and conscious of a strange lassitude, I made no struggle to reach
land, but permitted myself to be borne downward in the grip of the
water. Suddenly something drifted against my body, a black,
ill-defined object, tossing about on the swell of the waves, and
instinctively I grasped at it, recognizing instantly the shell of our
wrecked boat. It was all awash, a great hole stove in its side well
forward, and so filled with water the added weight of my body would
have sunk it instantly. Yet the thing remained buoyant enough to
float, and I clung to its stern, thankful even for this slight help.

There was no occasion for fear, although I became aware that the sweep
of the current was steadily bearing us further out toward the center of
the broad stream, and soon felt convinced that escape from my
predicament would be impossible until after daylight. I could perceive
absolutely nothing by which to shape a course, the sky above, and the
water beneath being equally black. Not a star glimmered overhead, and
no revealing spark of light appeared along either shore, or sparkled
across the river surface. The only sound to reach my ears was the soft
lapping of water against the side of the boat to which I clung. The
loneliness was complete; the intense blackness strained my eyes, and I
constantly felt as though some mysterious weight was dragging me down
into the depths. Yet the struggle to keep afloat was no longer
necessary, and my head sank in relief on the hands gripping at the
boat's stern, while we floated silently on through the black mystery.

I know not how long this lasted--it might have been for hours, as I
took no account of time. My mind seemed dazed, incapable of
consecutive thought although a thousand illogical conceptions flas