Page:Life on the Mississippi (IA lifeonmississipptwai).pdf/146

 140 entirely, and the dead silence and suspense of "drifting" followed; when the shoalest water was struck, he cracked on the steam, carried her handsomely over, and then began to work her warily into the next system of shoal marks; the same patient, heedful use of leads and engines followed, the boat slipped through without touching bottom, and entered upon the third and last intri-

"NOBODY THERE."

cacy of the crossing; imperceptibly she moved through the gloom, crept by inches into her marks, drifted tediously till