nd along the guard-ways.
The voices of women, too, were mingled in the medley.

I surmised what all this meant. The approach of the rival boat was the
cause of the excitement.

Up to this time the boat-race seemed to have been nearly forgotten. It
had got abroad among both "hands" and passengers that the Captain did
not intend to "run;" and although this backing-out had been loudly
censured at first, the feeling of disappointment had partially subsided.
The crew had been busy at their work of stowage--the firemen with their
huge billets of cord-wood--the gamblers with their cards--and the
passengers, in general, with their portmanteaus, or the journal of the
day. The other boat not starting at the same time, had been out of
sight until now, and the feeling of rivalry almost "out of mind."

The appearance of the rival produced a sudden change. The gamblers
flung down the half-dealt pack, in hopes of having something more
exciting to bet upon; the readers hastily closed their books, and tossed
aside their newspapers; the rummagers of trunks banged down the lids;
the fair occupants of rocking-chairs suddenly sprang to their feet; and
all ran out of the cabins, and pressed towards the after-part of the
boat.

My position on the hurricane-deck was the best possible for a good view
of the rival boat, and I was soon joined by a number of my
fellow-passengers. I wished, however, to witness the scene on the
cabin-deck, and went below.

On reaching the main saloon, I found it quite forsaken. All the
passengers, both male and female, had gone out upon the guard-way; and
leaning against the guards were anxiously watching the approach of the
Magnolia.

I found the Captain under the front-cabin awning. He was surrounded by
a crowd of gentlemen-passengers, all of whom appeared to be in a high
state of excitement. One after the other was proffering speech to him.
They were urging him to "raise the steam."

The Captain, evidently wishing to escape from these importunities, kept
passing from place to place. It was to no purpose. Wherever he went he
was met or followed by a knot of individuals, all with the same request
in their mouths--some even begging him for "God's sake" not to let the
Magnolia pass him!

"Wal, Cap!" cried one, "if the Belle don't run, I guess she'll never be
heerd of on these waters agin, she won't."

"You're right!" added another. "For my part the next trip I make I'll
try the Magnolia."

"S