CONTENTS.
| PAGE | ||
| I. | Prelude | [5] |
| II. | Gathering Information | [9] |
| III. | Preparations | [13] |
| IV. | The First Shipwreck | [23] |
| V. | The Canal | [27] |
| VI. | The Illinois River | [40] |
| VII. | Building the Boat | [46] |
| VIII. | The Lower Illinois | [55] |
| IX. | Towing | [68] |
| X. | St. Louis | [77] |
| XI. | The Mississippi | [81] |
| XII. | Cairo and the Ohio | [90] |
| XIII. | Duck Shooting | [103] |
| XIV. | Snagged in Tennessee Chute | [109] |
| XV. | Mooring | [116] |
| XVI. | A Levee Camp | [118] |
| XVII. | Vicksburg | [128] |
| XVIII. | River Pirates | [133] |
| XIX. | The Atchafalaya | [136] |
| XX. | Melville. Deer Hunting | [141] |
| XXI. | Baton Rouge. The Panther | [150] |
| XXII. | The Bobcat | [163] |
| XXIII. | Ascending the Atchafalaya | [167] |
| XXIV. | Ducking at Catahoula Lake | [173] |
| XXV. | Some Louisiana Folks | [185] |
| XXVI. | From Winter to Summer in a Day | [192] |
| XXVII. | Voyage Ended | [196] |
| XXVIII. | Dangers and Delights | [199] |
| XXIX. | Results | [205] |
CHAPTER I.
PRELUDE.
Once upon a time there was a doctor who, after many years spent in that pursuit concluded to reform. But strong is the influence of evil associates, and those who had abetted him in his old ways still endeavored to lead him therein.
One day his good angel whispered in his ear the magic words, "House boat;" and straightway there arose in his mental vision the picture of a broad river, the boat lazily floating, children fishing, wife's cheery call to view bits of scenery too lovely for solitary enjoyment, and a long year of blissful seclusion where no tale of woe could penetrate, no printer's devil cry for copy. Incidentally the tired eyes could rest, and the long stretches of uninterrupted time be transmuted into creative work; with no banging telephone or boring visitor to scatter the faculties into hopeless desuetude. Sandwich with hours busy with those recuperative implements, the rod and gun, the adventures and explorations incident to the trip, and here was a scheme to make the heart of a city-tired man leap.