STEAMERS ON THE MlSSISSim. 109 



he expressed his surprise at the amount of whiskey con- 

 sumed at his " settlement," and hinted it was rather an 

 unprofitable business for the boat. Zeb, at this piece 

 of information, " flared up," raised his mane, shut his 

 " maulers," and told Captain Raft he could whip him, — 

 the pilot, and deck hands, and if they would give him 

 the advantage of the " under grip," he would let the pis- 

 ton-rod of the engine punch him in the side all the time 

 the fight was going on. 



Haft, at this display of fury from Zeb, cooled down 

 immediately, acknowledged himself " snagged," begged 

 Zeb's pardon, and adjourned to the bar for a drink. 

 One glass followed another, until the heroes got into 

 the mellow mood, and Zeb, on such occasions, always 

 " went it strong " for his family. After praising their 

 beauty individually and collectively, he broke into the 

 pathetic, and set the Captain crying, by the following 

 heartrending appeal : — 



" Raft, Raft, my dear fellow, you talk about the 

 trouble of putting out a barrel of whiskey every week 

 at my diggins, when I have got a sick wife, and five small 

 children, and no coio I — whar's your heart?" 



Dinner in due course of time was announced — the 

 table was covered with the largest roast beef, the largest 

 potatoes, and the largest carving-knife and fork that 

 ever floated, and the steward rang the largest bell for 

 dinner, and longer than any other steward would have 

 done, and the captain talked about the immense extent 



