gauge-cocks!--carrying every pound she can stand!--nigger roosting on the

safety-valve!"

Good! How's your draft?"

"Bully! Every time a nigger heaves a stick of wood into the furnace he

goes out the chimney, with it!"

The Amaranth drew steadily up till her jack-staff breasted the Boreas's

wheel-house--climbed along inch by inch till her chimneys breasted it

-crept along, further and further, till the boats were wheel to wheel

-and then they, closed up with a heavy jolt and locked together tight

and fast in the middle of the big river under the flooding moonlight! A

roar and a hurrah went up from the crowded decks of both steamers--all

hands rushed to the guards to look and shout and gesticulate--the weight

careened the vessels over toward each other--officers flew hither and

thither cursing and storming, trying to drive the people amidships--both

captains were leaning over their railings shaking their fists, swearing

and threatening--black volumes of smoke rolled up and canopied the

scene,--delivering a rain of sparks upon the vessels--two pistol shots

rang out, and both captains dodged unhurt and the packed masses of

passengers surged back and fell apart while the shrieks of women and

children soared above the intolerable din----

And then there was a booming roar, a thundering crash, and the riddled

Amaranth dropped loose from her hold and drifted helplessly away!

The Gilded Age