It was near sunset--the fiery disc was going down behind the dark
outline of cypress forest that belted the western horizon, and a yellow
light fell upon the river. Promenading back and forward upon the
canvas-covered roof, I was gazing upon the scene, wrapt in admiration of
its glowing beauty.
My reverie was interrupted. On looking down the river I saw that a
large boat was in our wake, and coming rapidly after us. The volume of
smoke rolling up out of her tall funnels, and the red glowing of her
fires, showed that she was moving under a full head of steam. Her size,
as well as the loud reports of her 'scape-pipe, told that she was a boat
of the first-class. She was the "Magnolia." She was moving with great
velocity, and I had not watched her long, before I perceived that she
was fast gaining upon us.
At this moment my ears were assailed by a variety of sounds coming from
below. Loud voices in earnest tones, the stamping and pattering of
feet, as of men rushing over the wooden decks and 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."
"She's a fast boat that 'ere Magnolia!" remarked a third.
"She ain't anything else," rejoined the first speaker: "she's got her
steam on a few, I reckon."
I walked out on the guard-way in the direction of the ladies' cabin.
The inmates of the latter were clustered along the guards, and seemingly
as much interested in the boat-race as the men. I could hear several of
them expressing their wishes aloud that the boats would run. All idea
of risk or fear of consequences had departed; and I believe that if the
company had been "polled" at the moment in favour of the race, there
would not have been three dissentient voices. I confess that I, myself,
would have voted for running,--I had caught the infection, and no longer
thought of "snags", "sawyers," or bursting boilers.
As the Magnolia drew near the excitement increased. It was evident that
in a few minutes more she would be alongside, and then pass us. The
idea was unsupportable to some of the passengers; and loud words could
be heard, now and then interspersed with an angry oath. The poor
Captain had to bear all this--for it was known that the rest of the
officers were well disposed for a trial of speed. It was the Captain
only who "showed the white feather."
The Magnolia was close in our wake; her head bearing a little to one
side. She was evidently preparing to pass us!
Her officers and crew were moving actively about; both pilots were seen
above at the wheel-house; the firemen were all at work upon the deck;
the furnace-doors were glowing red-hot; and the bright blaze stood
several feet above the tops of her tall funnels! One might have fancied
she was on fire!
"They are burning bacon hams!" shouted a voice.
"They are by--!" exclaimed another. "See, yonder's a pile of them in
front of the furnace!"
I turned my eyes in that direction. It was quite true. A
pyramidal-shaped mass of dark-brown objects lay upon the deck in front
of the fires. Their size, shape, and colour told what they were--dried
hams of bacon. The firemen were seen taking them from the pile, and
thrusting them one after another up the red tunnels of the furnace!
The Magnolia was still gaining upon us. Already her head was even with
the wheel-house of the Belle. On the latter boat the excitement
increased, and the noise along with it. An occasional taunt from the
passengers of the rival boat added fuel to the flame; and the Captain
was once more abjured to run. Men almost threatened him with violence!
The Magnolia continued to advance. She was now head for head with us.
Another minute passed--a minute of deep silence--the crews and
passengers of both boats watched their progress with hearts too full for
utterance. Another minute, and the Magnolia had shot ahead!
A triumphant cheer rang along her decks, mingled with taunting shouts
and expressions of insult.
"Throw us a line, and we'll tow you!" cried one.
"Whar's yer old ark now?" shouted another.
"Hurraw for the Magnolia! Three groans for the Belle of the West!
Three groans for the old dugout!" vociferated a third, amidst jeers and
shouts of laughter.
I can hardly describe the mortification felt by those on board the
Belle. It was not confined to the officers and crew. The passengers,
one and all, seemed to partake of the feeling. I shared it myself, more
than I could have believed to be possible.
One dislikes to be among the conquered, even on any terms of
association. Besides, one involuntarily catches the impulse of the
moment. The sentiment that surrounds you--perhaps by physical laws
which you cannot resist--for the moment becomes your own; and even when
you know the object of exultation to be worthless or absurd, you are
controlled by the electric current to join in the enthusiasm. I
remember once being thus carried away, and mingled my voice with the
rude throats that cheered the passing cortege of royalty. The moment it
was past, however, my heart fell, abashed at its own meanness and
wickedness.
Both his crew and passengers seemed to think our Captain imprudent in
his prudence: and a general clamour, mingled with cries of "Shame!" was
heard all over the boat.
The poor Captain! I had my eyes upon him all this while. I really
pitied him. I was perhaps the only passenger on board, beside the fair
Creole, who knew his secret; and I could not help admiring the chivalric
fortitude with which he kept it to himself. I saw his cheek glow, and
his eye sparkle with vexation; and I felt satisfied, that had he been
called upon to make that promise then, he would not have done so for the
privilege of carrying all the freight upon the river.
Just then, as if to escape the importunities that beset him, I saw him
steal back and pass through the ladies' cabin. There he was at once
recognised, and a general onset was made upon him by his fair
passengers, who were almost as noisy in their petitions as the men.
Several threatened him, laughingly, that they would never travel by his
boat again; while others accused him of a want of gallantry. Surely it
was impossible to resist such banterings; and I watched the Captain
closely, expecting a crisis one way or the other. The crisis was at
hand.
Drawing himself up in the midst of a knot of these importunates, he thus
addressed them:--
"Ladies! Nothing would give me more pleasure than to gratify you, but
before leaving New Orleans I gave my promise--in fact, passed my word of
honour to a lady--" Here the gallant speech was interrupted by a young
lady, who, rushing up from another part of the boat, cried out--
"Oh, Capitaine! cher Capitaine! do not let that wicked boat get ahead of
us! do put on more steam, and pass her--that is a dear Captain!"
"Why, Mademoiselle!" replied the Captain, in astonishment, "it was to
you I gave the promise not to run--it was--"
"Pardieu!" exclaimed Mademoiselle Besancon, for it was she. "So you
did. I had quite forgotten it. Oh, cher Capitaine, I release you from
that promise. _Helas_! I hope it is not too late. For Heaven's sake,
try to pass her! _Ecoutez! les polissons_! how they taunt us!"
The Captain's face brightened up for a moment, and then suddenly resumed
its vexed expression. He replied--
"Mademoiselle, although grateful to you, I regret to say that under the
circumstances I cannot hope to run successfully against the Magnolia.
We are not on equal terms. _She is burning bacon hams_, of which she
has a large supply. I should have had the same, but after promising you
not to run, I, of course, did not take any on board. It would be
useless to attempt a race with only common cord-wood--unless indeed the
Belle be much the faster boat, which we do not yet know, as we have
never tried her speed."
Here appeared to be a dilemma, and some of the ladies regarded
Mademoiselle Besancon with looks of displeasure.
"Bacon hams!" she exclaimed; "bacon hams did you say, cher Capitaine?
How many would be enough? Would two hundred be enough?"
"Oh! less than that," replied the Captain.
"Here! Antoine! Antoine!" continued she, calling to the old steward.
"How many bacon hams have you on board?"
"Ten barrels of them, Mademoiselle," answered the steward, bowing
respectfully.
"Ten barrels! that will do, I suppose? Cher Capitaine, they are at your
service!"
"Mademoiselle, I shall pay you for them," said the Captain, brightening
up, and becoming imbued with the general enthusiasm.
"No--no--no! Let the expense be mine. I have hindered you. They were
for my plantation people, but they are not in want. We shall send down
for more. Go, Antoine! go to the firemen. Knock in the heads of the
barrels! Use them as you please, but do not let us be beaten by that
wicked Magnolia! Hark! how they cheer! Ha! we shall pass them yet."
So saying, the fiery Creole rushed back to the guard-way, followed by a
group of admirers.
The Captain's "dander" was now fairly up; and the story of the bacon
hams soon spreading over the boat, still further heightened the
enthusiasm of both passengers and crew. Three loud cheers were given
for the young lady, which seemed to mystify the Magnolians, who had now
been for some time in the enjoyment of their triumph, and had forged a
considerable distance ahead.
All hands went to work with a will--the barrels were rolled-up, their
heads knocked in, and part of their contents "chucked" up the blazing
furnace. The iron walls soon grew red--the steam rose--the boat
trembled under the increased action of the engine--the bells of the
engineers tinkled their signals--the wheels revolved more rapidly, and
an increase of velocity was soon perceptible.
Hope had stifled clamour--comparative silence was restored. There was
heard only an occasional utterance--the expression of an opinion upon
the speed of the rival boats--the fixing the conditions of a bet--and
now and then some allusion to the story of the bacon hams.
At intervals, all eyes were bent upon the water eagerly glancing along
the line that separated the rival steamers.