Page:The Wreck of a World - Grove - 1890.djvu/77

Rh pected. The best part of the day had been consumed in Gell's search, but now we knew the worst it was useless and unadvisable to continue lying off the same spot, so we proceeded late in the afternoon to drop gently down towards New Orleans. We were still some three miles above that city when the sun went down, but its last rays showed us a sight that filled us with surprise and excitement, for steaming up to meet us was a large fleet of river boats, stemming the strong current with their powerful engines, and slowly, but surely, advancing up stream. What was the meaning of this? Had another township determined, like ourselves, to commit their fortunes to the water? Had the citizens of New Orleans taken to their boats, and were they wandering in search of a new home? And if so, why were they going upwards, into the heart of the Continent, whence all others had fled?

Full of misgivings, and scarcely daring to entertain the thought that was forming in my mind, I judged it well to take all precautions. First I stopped the boats, and drew them quietly under the shelter of the wooded bank. Then I signalled "all lights out," then "silence"; injunctions which were promptly