crew already had weighted one edge of a buffalo hide and
stood in the bow, directly over the snag, which luckily had pierced the
hull more above than below the water line. The captain signalled and the
great paddle wheel turned swiftly full speed astern. The grating,
splitting sound of the snag leaving the hull was followed by a shouted
order and the hide was lowered overside and instantly sucked against the
rent; and the paddle wheel, quickly reversing, pushed the boat ahead at
an angle to the current until, low in the water, she grounded solidly on
the edge of the flat bar. Anchors were set and cables made taut while
the _Belle_ settled firmly on the sandy bottom and rested almost on an
even keel. There she would stay if the river continued to fall, until
the rent was fully exposed and repaired; and there she would stay,
repaired, until another rise floated her. The captain signalled for the
paddles to stop and then drew a heavy arm across his forehead, sighed,
and turned to face the fur company packet.

The passengers were becoming calm by stages, but the calm was largely
the reaction of hysteria for a few moments until common sense walled up
the breach. Every eye now watched the oncoming steamboat, which had
sailed doggedly ahead for the past two nights and days while the _Belle_
had loitered against the banks. Even the most timid were now calmed by
the sight of her lighted cabins as she ploughed toward her stricken
sister. Fearful of the snag, she came to a stop when nearly abreast of
the _Belle_ and the two captains held a short and shouted conversation.
Her yawl soon returned and reported the water safe, but shoaling
rapidly; and at this information she turned slightly oblique to the
current and, sounding every few feet, crept up to within two gangplanks'
reach of the _Belle_ and anchored bow and stern. Her own great landing
stage swung out over the cheated waters and hung poised while that of
the _Belle_ circled out to meet it, waveringly, as though it had lost a
valuable sense. They soon touched, were made to coincide and then lashed
securely together. At once, women first, the passengers of the _Belle_
began to cross the arched span a few at a time, and sighed with relief
as they reached the deck of the uninjured vessel. On the main deck of
the _Belle_ the crew already was piling up such freight as could be
taken from the hold and the sound of hammering at her bow told of
temporary repairs being made.

Among