Today | News | Books | Recipes Adventure | Science Fiction | Ghost stories | Poetry | Children | History Life on the MississippiThe Project Gutenberg eBook of Life on the Mississippi This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook. Title: Life on the Mississippi Author: Mark Twain Release date: July 10, 2004 [eBook #245] Most recently updated: January 1, 2021 Language: English Other information and formats: www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/245 Credits: Produced by David Widger. Earliest PG text edition produced by Graham Allan *** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LIFE ON THE MISSISSIPPI *** Produced by David Widger. Earliest PG text edition produced by Graham Allan 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. CHAPTER XXI. I get my License.--The War Begins.--I become a Jack-of-all-trades. CHAPTER XXII. I try the Alias Business.--Region of Goatees--Boots begin to Appear.--The River Man is Missing.--The Young Man is Discouraged.-- Specimen Water.--A Fine Quality of Smoke.--A Supreme Mistake.--We Inspect the Town.--Desolation Way-traffic.--A Wood-yard. CHAPTER XXIII. Old French Settlements.--We start for Memphis.--Young Ladies and Russia-leather Bags. CHAPTER XXIV. I receive some Information.--Alligator Boats.--Alligator Talk.--She was a Rattler to go.--I am Found Out. CHAPTER XXV. The Devil's Oven and Table.--A Bombshell falls.--No Whitewash.--Thirty Years on the River.-Mississippi Uniforms.--Accidents and Casualties.--Two hundred Wrecks.--A Loss to Literature.--Sunday- Schools and Brick Masons. CHAPTER XXVI. War Talk.--I Tilt over Backwards.--Fifteen Shot-holes.--A Plain Story.--Wars and Feuds.--Darnell versus Watson.--A Gang and a Woodpile.--Western Grammar.--River Changes.--New Madrid.--Floods and Falls. CHAPTER XXVII. Tourists and their Note-books.--Captain Hall.--Mrs. Trollope's Emotions.--Hon. Charles Augustus Murray's Sentiment.--Captain Marryat's Sensations.--Alexander Mackay's Feelings.--Mr. Parkman Reports CHAPTER XXVIII. Swinging down the River.--Named for Me.--Plum Point again.--Lights and Snag Boats.--Infinite Changes.--A Lawless River.--Changes and Jetties.--Uncle Mumford Testifies.--Pegging the River.--What the Government does.--The Commission.--Men and Theories.--"Had them Bad."--Jews and Prices. CHAPTER XXIX. Murel's Gang.--A Consummate Villain.--Getting Rid of Witnesses.--Stewart turns Traitor.--I Start a Rebellion.--I get a New Suit of Clothes.--We Cover our Tracks.--Pluck and Capacity.--A Good Samaritan City.--The Old and the New. CHAPTER XXX. A Melancholy Picture.--On the Move.--River Gossip.--She Went By a-Sparklin'.--Amenities of Life.--A World of Misinformation.-- Eloquence of Silence.--Striking a Snag.--Photographically Exact.--Plank Side-walks. CHAPTER XXXI. Mutinous Language.--The Dead-house.--Cast-iron German and Flexible English.--A Dying Man's Confession.--I am Bound and Gagged. --I get Myself Free.--I Begin my Search.--The Man with one Thumb. --Red Paint and White Paper.--He Dropped on his Knees.--Fright and Gratitude.--I Fled through the Woods.--A Grisly Spectacle.--Shout, Man, Shout.--A look of Surprise and Triumph.--The Muffled Gurgle of a Mocking Laugh.--How strangel |