The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1862-01-08
The Rival Pilots

her day. and had two OF ;he best nil Dis or
The Mississippi river. Between thes,, men
whom we will call Smith and Browp-
there existed bitter feeling of rivaIr,. The
flrst engineer sided with Smith, the frs, nj.
lo', and the second engineer with Bro wn.
One day when The was leaving Nitchez
Brown. who was steering, ran her shor,
distance down stream in order TO pass the
town under foil head of steam. Just as
ne was abreast the town, the first en;tineer,
who was working the boat, shut the steam
nearly off; nor would he put it on again
untilihey finally. and very slowly passed
the town Brown saw the finger of Smith
IN his EanGuvers, and swore revenge. He
got it,
on the next down trip, a heavy fog arose
al sunset; and Smith. who at Tint time
abandoned The boat TO Brown. orde ed him
10 run the boat till nine O'Clock, ard then
lie her mp, to have steam kept up night,
and il the fog should lift, call him.
Tie the boat up q said Brown. u can
run her in any such fog as there is 10 night.
III run her till twelve, and then lie her up.
as you are afraid
y can run her any night and anywhere
that you cam replied Smith land if YOU
do run her till twelve, call me thel, that's
all.'
Brown kept on for a time but the fog
grew heavisr; and having made sure that
his coadjutor was asleep, he rour Ged the
boat 10 at wood yard. and tied up. His
friend, the second engineer, was On duty.
and, according TO Browns direc ion. the
wheel was unshipped, and the stam kept
up.
AT twelve Brown went TO tie wheel
again, and sent waiter to call Srlith who
soon made his appearance, Thing his
eyes, and anything but pleased at the pros
pecl before him.
Halo ! said Brown, ARE ycu there 4
I've called you according to orders Now |
think you had better lie up, and turn in
again: or you will make sma 30 before
morning.
Smith growled ont that he wis able TO
steer any boat in any fog, where any body
else could, and took the wheel. Brown
wen: below
The boat was fast 10 the bank, ,ut Meth
er bank nor anything else could DOR Smith
see.
The wheels which were uninilred, turn
ed round with the swift current, and The
splashes reached his ears the kissing OF
steam in the pressure boiIer sounded
all right TO him, and so cursiu. his bad
luck, Browns obsiinacy, and his own stu.
pidiy in accepting The banter, he turned
The wheel now this way and no that, ex-
pecting every moment to feel the boa, strike
against something thousand times, du-
Ting the dreary watch, did he dsterH:ine to
give up his desperate undertak ng. and so
often did pride sep in and owe take him
and so, finally having made up his mind to
lei the worst come TO The worst, be gave a
tubular order 10 the engineer to work very
slow and keep on.
About sunrise, Brown, accou panied by
he captain and other officers came on
deck.
Halo, Smith ? said Brown, eis tha, you?
'Yes, it is.' replied Smith eros sly enough.
you havn'i been running all a sh,, reck-
on 2 continued Brown
Don't you see ! have y answered Smith.
DON'T you know where you ael If you
ion't, you had better get your eyes scrub
bed OUT
NO. said Brown, 4 can't say that do
Where are wep
Just above Natchaz, was the reply
'WeIl. smarlly, said Brown, You have
lone it this time, and wouldn be in your
boots for hogshead of nigger'
what have done, and what do you
nean,' demanded Smith ferocihusy.
Done done enough roaree Brown.
q left the boat tied up to old Jones' plan
alton, and you've gore and lowed that
own 10 Natchez. They'll have you up
or abduction, end land piracy and niger
iealng, and putting obstruc lons in the
hsnnel of the river; and ,hr, Lord have
mercy on youp
A very moist ray OF the sun peeping
trough the mist al this mom,nt partially |
isclosed The situation of the b ,at and shore
} the asionished Smith, and d ,rling below,
e remained there until The Dat did reach
satchez; and from that tim,, ever after
either the Uncle Sam nor thit Mississippi
Iroar, b,ro r,ora