k at the best.

"It was exactly two o'clock in the afternoon on the seventh day of our
voyage when we got beyond Wolf's Island, which, as you know, lies
above New Madrid and below the mouth of the Ohio. The poor Helen
M'Gregor burst her boiler since then, as you'll have heard, at that
very place, and sent half a hundred passengers into the other world.
Past Wolf's Island, we came up with the Ploughboy, the Huntress, the
Louisville, and a couple more steamers, all going our way. It made
quite a little fleet. I was sitting in the cabin with Miss Lambton and
the old gentleman, who were cool and silent enough, when somebody
called out, 'Here comes the George Washington.' A glorious steamer it
is that George, more like a floating palace than a boat, as it goes
skimming along as lightly and smoothly as a swan. It's a real pleasure
to see it. I kept my place by Miss Lambton; but, to tell you the
truth, I was sitting upon hot coals. What can be the reason that we
men feel so deucedly cowed and quailed by the petticoats? Hang me if I
know. Suddenly there was a cry upon deck, 'The Washington is passing
us.' I could stand it no longer, but bolted up-stairs, and sure enough
there it came in all its pride and power, trarara, trarara, rushing
and dashing and spitting fire like Emperor Nap. at the head of his
guards and dragoons and artillery. It was already in the midst of the
other five steamers, passing them all. The whole of our passengers
were on deck looking on, and I can tell you that our hearts beat quick
as we saw the George walking up to us. The dinner-bell rang. Not a
foot moved to go below. 'Captain,' cried I, 'we must not let the
George pass us; you can't think of allowing such a thing?' says I;
'must show them that we are Mississippi men.'

"'Mister Doughby,' says he, 'it's the George Washington,' says
he--'hundred and twenty horse power,' says he.

"'Devil a hundred,' said I. 'You only say so because you are afraid to
race him. And if he had two hundred horse power, what then? Shorten
your stirrups and give your horse the spur,' say I.

"I saw that the captain's blood was getting up; his eyes were fixed on
the old George as if he would have eaten it, and he became red and
blue and green, all manner of colours, like a dolphin; his teeth
chattered, and he bit his lips till the blood ran over his chin. On
came the Washington quicker than ever, the paddles clattering, the
steam hissing, the crew hurraing like mad.

"'