96 WILD SPORTS IN THE FAR WEST. 



fifteen or twenty feet in height when the water is low, 

 and then to cross a narrow, tottering plank, frequently 

 covered with ice, when a single false step would precip- 

 itate the unfortunate fireman into the rapid deep 

 stream, an accident which indeed happened to me 

 another time in the Mississippi. It is altogether a 

 miserable life, offering, moreover, a prospect of being 

 blown up, no uncommr)n misfortune, thanks to the 

 rashness of the American engineers. 



I carried on this work for some time, till the deser- 

 tion of the cook at Memphis caused a vacancy in that 

 department. Just as the boat was about to start, I 

 offered myself for the place, and was accepted, although 

 I knew nothing more than how to boil a kettle ; yet I 

 very soon learned as much as was necessary. 



When I returned to Little Rock I released my gun 

 and hunting-knife. The next voyage was to the mouth 

 of the Arkansa^s and back. The rude coarse life among 

 the lowest class of people soon disgusted me, and, in 

 addition to this, I had incurred the enmity of the 

 captain, who disliked me, probably only because I was 

 a German. Yet he could not do without me ; but as 

 I could not find a substitute, I was obliged to make 

 another voyage, and this time up the river. I already 

 had an idea how my service would terminate, and 

 having my game-bag packed, and my gun, hunting- 

 knife, and a tomahawk that I had purchased, all at 

 hand, I was prepared for any thing that might 

 happen. 



Two days after our departure, the captain came 

 down to me as I was in the act of giving the remains 

 of a meal to a poor old woman, who was on her way to 



