here we had not had more than an inch to spare in
coming up. I measured the depth where I had done it every day I had
been on board since our arrival, and I found it was two inches lower. I
was rather alarmed, for I did not like the idea of spending several
weeks in this locality, excellent as the hunting was, for I knew that
the party would soon tire of it.

While I stood at the stern thinking of it, I heard a noise which I
thought came from the inside of the paddle-box. I listened for some
time but did not hear it again, and I concluded that a young alligator,
or some other water animal, had crawled into the opening.

I started to return to the stairs which led from the main deck forward
to the space in front of the saloon. I was passing between two piles of
lightwood on my way, when I heard the report of a pistol. A bullet
whistled uncomfortably near my head. I don't claim to be bullet-proof,
and I was startled by the sound, and by the whizzing of the ball so
near my head. I made up my mind on the instant that the shot was
intended for me, and that my life was in actual danger. Buck and Hop
were attending to the mules on shore, and I saw no one on the lower
deck.

Moses Brickland and Ben Bowman were in their rooms, and I called them.
I told them what had happened. They had heard the shot; but some one
was shooting about all the time in the vicinity of the boat, and they
paid no attention to such sounds. We searched every part of the lower
deck, even opening the trap into the paddle-box, made to allow a
workman to get in when repairs were necessary. We could find no person.

"I believe this steamer is haunted, and I wouldn't sail in her another
month if you would give her to me," said Ben, who was not a
highly-educated person, though he knew a steam-engine as well as though
he had been through college. "I have heard all sorts of noises by night
and by day."

"What sort of noises, Ben?" I asked with interest, not that I was
impressed with the idea that the Wetumpka was haunted.

"Well, footsteps where no person could be found," replied the engineer.
"Now, you say you have been fired at, and no one on board could have
done it."

"I don't believe ghosts use fire-arms, Ben," I added, as I saw Cornwood
come on the forward deck.

He had been hunting with the sportsmen, to assist them with his
knowledge of the game of the country. The moment he saw us he hastened
aft, and asked me what the matter was. As we had not