he
mouth of the Red River, as far as the eye could reach, presented the
appearance of an extensive lake, with thousands of tree trunks
floating upon it. I had left the cabin, and was standing on deck with
Richards and Vergennes, looking out upon the broad sheet of water that
lay before us. We were just turning into the Red River when I observed
a rowboat pulling across from the direction of Woodville, and which
had already arrived within a hundred yards of us without attracting
the attention of any one on board the steamer. It was cutting in and
out amongst the enormous floating trees, with a boldness that, in that
part of the river--near the middle of which we were--might almost be
called insanity.

"That man must be mad, or in love!" cried the captain.

"It is Ralph Doughby!" exclaimed Richards. "Captain, it is Mister
Doughby. Pray, stop the ship and let him come on board."

Doughby it was. The mad fellow was standing bolt upright, and hardly
taking the trouble to bend to one side or the other in conformity with
the movements of the boat, which was dancing about on the waves and
between the tree-trunks, while the six negro rowers were washed over
and over by the spray.

"Here's your famous Red River!" shouted the harebrained Doughby. "A
fine country for wild-ducks and geese, and alligators too. Hurra,
boys!"

"For God's sake, Mr Doughby!" screamed and implored the ladies, as the
Kentuckian dashed his boat slap up to the side of the steamer, without
waiting till the speed of the vessel was slackened, and hastily caught
a rope which was thrown to him. Just at that moment a wave as high as
a man rose between the steamer and the boat and separated them, and
Doughby still maintaining his hold on the rope, he was dragged out of
his skiff and tossed like a feather against the steamer's side, where
he hung half in and half out of the water.

"Haul in, boys--haul me in, lads--or your d----d paddles will do it!"

"Pull him in!" shouted we all, "pull him in for God's sake!"

"Ay, pull in!" cried Doughby, and giving a spring upwards he caught
hold of the railing of the deck, threw himself over it with a bound,
and stood in all safety amongst the astonished and grinny-visaged
Cyclops who were hastening to his assistance. We hurried down from the
quarterdeck, breathless with astonishment at this desperate and
unnecessary piece of daring.

"Pshaw" cried Doughby; "steward, a glass of hot; and, captain, see
that my portman