“That’s all right, as long as you are on the boat,” Alex. put in, “but you jump into the lagoon and see how long you’ll last. An alligator will leave a fat pig any time to make a dinner off a black boy!”
“Quit scaring the boy!” exclaimed Case. “First thing you know, he will be afraid to swim ashore to steal a yellow-legged chicken roasted by tramps!”
When darkness fell a soft wind came out of the west and a slow rain began falling. It was wild and uncanny outside, but bright and warm in the cabin. Alex. entertained his chums for a time with stories of the Mississippi, and explained how Grant had shortened the stream by cutting a new channel at Vicksburg, but all were tired, and by nine o’clock all were asleep save Jule, who was to stand guard that night, and Mose who was moving restlessly about.
“Come on into the cabin, Mose,” Jule finally ordered, “and go to bed, like a good coon! You’ll get wet out on deck!”
The boy entered the cabin and sat down near the stove, in which a small fire was burning. Jule regarded him attentively.
“What’s the matter with you to-night?” he finally asked.
“Ah hear a roar!” was the reply.
“That’s the wind in the cypress trees,” Jule explained.
“Is it de win’ makes de ribber come up?” asked Mose, in a moment.
“Is the river rising?” asked Jule, going to the door and switching on the prow light. “It ought to be running down.”