as they turned in.
"Plenty of elbow room here. We can go up a little ways, and then
anchor right in the middle of the stream. We'll be free from the wash
of the big New Orleans and St. Louis packets, that nearly upsets our
little boat."

"Yis," added Jimmie, "and just be afther sayin' how dape the water is,
Jack, me bye. 'Twould take a hobo with mighty long legs to wade out
here, and crawl aboord our boat."

"All the same," replied the skipper with grim determination, "it's
another case of four watches during the night, of two hours at a
stretch."

The mudhook was soon down, and good holding ground found. While Jack
busied himself rubbing up the faithful little engine that was serving
them so well, and afterwards poring over the maps of the river he had
secured for each pilot in the long race to New Orleans, the cook
wrestled with supper.

It was a congenial task for Jimmie, and he often sang as he worked.
Jack liked to hear Jimmie warble, for he had a voice like a bird, clear
and sweet, though wholly untrained.

"Another good day takes us below Cairo, and the mouth of the big Ohio,"
Jack announced after a while; to which the cook added his blessings,
and hoped everything would run to their liking.

It was five o'clock when they sat down to supper. Jimmie had spread
himself to some purpose on this occasion; that is to say, he had made a
fine stew out of some corned beef taken from a tin, the balance of the
corn, left from a previous meal, but removed from the can after
opening, in order to avoid danger of ptomaine poisoning, and a couple
of cold potatoes cut up into small pieces.

Then he had also opened a can of peaches, to top off with; and they
also devoured the last piece of homemade gingerbread, carried from the
start.

"This is simply great," observed Jack, as he sighed while looking at
his share of the dessert, as though doubtful regarding his capacity.

But no such fears ever assailed Jimmie, who could run even Buster a
race when it came to doing "stunts" along the line of eating.

"I wonder if there could be any other boat above us?" Jack ventured
after a little while spent in chatting, as night set in.

"Sure, now, ye must have seen the same thing I did," declared the
other, quickly.

"Do you mean to say you noticed that small piece of cotton waste
floating on a bit of board just at dusk?" demanded Jack, curiously.

"I did that, and have been badgerin' me moind about the same iver
since.