s
correspondingly increased. I met a steamboat struggling against the
stream, and passed quite near to her. The swell that she left behind her
caused the raft to roll heavily for a moment; but it did not disturb the
sleepers in the house.

I called Sim at twelve o'clock, as nearly as I could judge, and he
faithfully promised me that he would keep awake till daylight. I left
him alone on the platform, and turned in, though not without some doubts
in regard to his ability to be true to his promise. I went to sleep very
promptly, and I must do Sim the justice to say that I found the raft all
right when he called me at sunrise, an hour later than the time agreed
upon. He told me that nothing had happened during the night, except
that a steamboat had nearly upset the raft.

I do not intend to make a daily record of our voyage down the river. One
day was very much like the next day, and all days were alike. On the
afternoon of the first day on the Mississippi, we approached a village,
where there was a steamboat landing. We were in want of supplies for our
table, and I decided to stop for an hour or two. But I found that it was
an easier matter to go ahead than it was to stop, for the raft had got
into the habit of doing so. The water was too deep to permit the use of
poles, and we were helplessly carried past the village.

I was vexed at this mishap, for I did not like to drink my coffee
without milk. However, we came to another and a larger village about
sundown, and, making my calculations in good season, I succeeded in
driving the raft into the shallow water where we could use the poles. We
struck the shore some distance above the place; but a walk of half a
mile was not objectionable, after our long confinement on the raft.

At this town I purchased a cheap clock, and an old, patched sail, which
had been used on a wood-boat, as well as some provisions and groceries.
Sim and I lugged these articles to the raft, and immediately cast off
again. I put the clock up in the house, where it could be seen through
the door without leaving the platform. The lantern hung over it, so that
we could tell the time by night.

I had great hopes of the sail, and the next day I rigged it upon two
poles, serving as yards. On one corner of the sail I found a block,
which had been used for the sheet. I fastened it at the masthead, so
that we could hoist and lower the sail at pleasure. I was no navigator,
and no sailor; and I had to experi