Quite calmly he surveyed the
scene. From the height of the steamer's bridge he could see abroad
over the country. A warm June sun flooded the landscape which was
filled with the peace of early summer. The river seemed to flow
smoothly and quietly enough, in spite of the swiftness of its
current and the swollen volume of its waters. Only up stream where
the big jam shrugged and groaned did any element jar on the peace of
the scene; and even that, in contrast to the rest of the landscape,
afforded small hint to the inexperienced eye of the imminence of a
mighty destruction.
Captain Marsh paid little attention to all this. His eye swept
rapidly up and down where the banks used to be until he saw a cross
current deeper than the rest sweeping in athwart the inundated
fields. He swung over the wheel and rang to the engine-room for
half speed ahead. Slowly the LUCY BELLE answered. Quite calmly
Captain Marsh rammed her through the opening and out over the
cornfields. The LUCY BELLE was a typical river steamboat, built
light in the draught in order to slide over the numerous shifting
bars to be encountered in her customary business. When Captain
Marsh saw that he had hit the opening, he rang for full speed, and
rammed the poor old LUCY BELLE hard aground in about a foot of water
through which a few mournful dried cornstalks were showing their
heads.
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