LIFE ON THE MISSISSIPPI
By Mark Twain
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER I. The Mississippi is Well worth Reading about.--It is Remarkable.--Instead of Widening towards its Mouth, it grows Narrower.--It Empties four hundred and six million Tons of Mud.--It was First Seen in 1542.--It is Older than some Pages in European History.--De Soto has the Pull.--Older than the Atlantic Coast.--Some Half-breeds chip in.--La Salle Thinks he will Take a Hand.
CHAPTER II. La Salle again Appears, and so does a Cat-fish.--Buffaloes also.--Some Indian Paintings are Seen on the Rocks.--“The Father of Waters “does not Flow into the Pacific.--More History and Indians. --Some Curious Performances--not Early English.--Natchez, or the Site of it, is Approached.
CHAPTER III. A little History.--Early Commerce.--Coal Fleets and Timber Rafts.--We start on a Voyage.--I seek Information.--Some Music.--The Trouble begins.--Tall Talk.--The Child of Calamity.--Ground and lofty Tumbling.--The Wash-up.--Business and Statistics.--Mysterious Band.--Thunder and Lightning.--The Captain speaks.--Allbright weeps.--The Mystery settled.--Chaff.--I am Discovered.--Some Art-work proposed.--I give an Account of Myself.--Released.
CHAPTER IV. The Boys' Ambition.--Village Scenes.--Steamboat Pictures. --A Heavy Swell.--A Runaway.
CHAPTER V. A Traveller.--A Lively Talker.--A Wild-cat Victim
CHAPTER VI. Besieging the Pilot.--Taken along.--Spoiling a Nap.--Fishing for a Plantation.--“Points” on the River.--A Gorgeous Pilot-house.
CHAPTER VII. River Inspectors.--Cottonwoods and Plum Point.--Hat-Island Crossing.--Touch and Go.--It is a Go.--A Lightning Pilot
CHAPTER VIII. A Heavy-loaded Big Gun.--Sharp Sights in Darkness.--Abandoned to his Fate.--Scraping the Banks.--Learn him or Kill him.
CHAPTER IX. Shake the Reef.--Reason Dethroned.--The Face of the Water. --A Bewitching Scene.-Romance and Beauty.
CHAPTER X. Putting on Airs.--Taken down a bit.--Learn it as it is.--The River Rising.
CHAPTER XI. In thg Tract Business.--Effects of the Rise.--Plantations gone.--A Measureless Sea.--A Somnambulist Pilot.--Supernatural Piloting.--Nobody there.--All Saved.
CHAPTER XII. Low Water.--Yawl sounding.--Buoys and Lanterns.--Cubs and Soundings.--The Boat Sunk.--Seeking the Wrecked.
CHAPTER XIII. A Pilot's Memory.--Wages soaring.--A Universal Grasp.--Skill and Nerve.--Testing a “Cub.”--“Back her for Life.”--A Good Lesson.
CHAPTER XIV. Pilots and Captains.--High-priced Pilots.--Pilots in Demand.--A Whistler.--A cheap Trade.--Two-hundred-and-fifty-dollar Speed.
CHAPTER XV. New Pilots undermining the Pilots' Association.--Crutches and Wages.--Putting on Airs.--The Captains Weaken.--The Association Laughs.--The Secret Sign.--An Admirable System.--Rough on Outsiders. --A Tight Monopoly.--No Loophole.--The Railroads and the War.
CHAPTER XVI. All Aboard.--A Glorious Start.--Loaded to Win.--Bands and Bugles.--Boats and Boats.--Racers and Racing.
CHAPTER XVII. Cut-offs.--Ditching and Shooting.--Mississippi Changes.--A Wild Night.--Swearing and Guessing.--Stephen in Debt.--He Confuses his Creditors.--He makes a New Deal.--Will Pay them Alphabetically.
CHAPTER XVIII. Sharp Schooling.--Shadows.--I am Inspected.--Where did you get them Shoes?--Pull her Down.--I want to kill Brown.--I try to run her.--I am Complimented.
CHAPTER XIX. A Question of Veracity.--A Little Unpleasantness.--I have an Audience with the Captain.--Mr. Brown Retires.
CHAPTER XX. I become a Passenger.--We hear the News.--A Thunderous Crash.--They Stand to their Posts.--In the Blazing Sun.--A Grewsome Spectacle.--His Hour has Struck.