, they crammed her
furnaces to their utmost capacity. The effects of this movement were
soon perceptible in every part of the boat, for she creaked and groaned
like a ship in a gale. But the Flatfoot, No. 3, had the lead, and seemed
to gain upon her rival,--a circumstance which seemed to rouse the
lethargic firemen of the Chalmetta to the highest pitch of excitement,
for they packed the furnaces more closely still.

Maxwell saw, with much satisfaction, the prospect of a race; not that he
expected in this instance to enjoy the excitement which, with "fast
men," is consequent upon such an occasion. He hoped it might distract
the attention of the person who, by accident or design, opposed the
execution of his purpose. He had sent Vernon to the cabin to watch the
movements of Henry, while he remained upon the main deck, forward of the
furnaces, to encourage the firemen in their ambitious project of passing
the other boat. Several barrels of hams which lay upon the deck the
apparently excited attorney ordered the firemen to throw into the
furnaces, promising to screen them from blame by paying the owner double
their value. The firemen, not blessed with an undue amount of caution,
willingly obeyed the order, and soon the boilers hissed and groaned
under the extraordinary pressure. The engineers, roused from their
slumbers, and entering at once into the sport, secured the safety-valve
in its place by attaching to the lever double the usual weight.

Still the person whom Maxwell wished to lure from his post remained
immovable. A few pitch-barrels were now split up, and cast into the
furnaces, which so increased the pressure that the faithful safety-valve
refused longer to endure the curb placed upon the discharge of its
function. It was again secured, and the reckless firemen, urged on by
Maxwell and the engineers, still pressed the boat to its destruction.

The boilers, notwithstanding the tremendous pressure to which they were
subjected, still realized the expectations of the confident engineers,
and refused to be the agents of an "awful calamity." But all exertion
was of no avail; the Flatfoot, No. 3, whose tall chimneys vomited forth
a long trail of flame, showing that she, too, was hard pressed, was
rapidly increasing her distance. Still the firemen plied the furnaces,
and again the engineers added more weight to the lever of the
safety-valve. The boilers were evidently pressed to their utmost, the,
decks were hot, and h