"They're going to sing," hurriedly said Ramsey to Hugh. "I wish they'd sing ''Lindy Lowe' that I've heard about!" And whether by happy chance or on some signal dropped down from him or because the chantey was a new one and the crew were glad to show it off, it was chosen. The two steamers passed close with a happy commotion throughout both and the song swelled. Then the wooded crest of the bar hid each from each, and Hugh turned to Gideon: "Now, commodore, if Miss Hayle is willing I'd like to take you both below and show you over the boat--before supper." When their descent brought them to the boiler deck the song was yet in full swing. When, passing on down, they reached the engine room the fact was amusingly clear to many on all decks, among them the Gilmores, the Californian, and Watson, that the singers had lit on a new bearing for their lines and were singing them now in compliment to a certain two whose story was by this time known to all on board. Whether, back between the sweeping cranks and shafts of the two great engines and wheels, behind the "doctor" and the "donkey" and with Hugh and Ramsey at his elbows, the alert Gideon heard the song at all was doubtful; so deep in debate were the two men, the quiet and the loud, on dimensions and powers: length, beam, hold, stroke, diameters of cylinders and of wheels, in such noted cases as the _Chevalier_, the _Eclipse_, the _J. M. White_, the _Natchez_, _Antelope_, _Paragon_, _Quakeress_, and _Autocrat_. The three were there yet when the song's last echo died, with Island Sixty-four eastward astern, Sixty-five southward ahead, the brief twilight failing and the supper bell ringadang-dinging. At table a far-away whistle softly roared and the _Enchantress_ sonorously responded. "A Hayle boat," said Ramsey to Hugh; "the _Regent_." "And we're singing 'Lindy' again!" said Mrs. Gilmore. Gideon, busy talking a few seats away, talked straight on, but a cloud on his brow showed now that he had heard the song the earlier time. Every one tried hard to listen to him and the melody with the same ears. Under the table somebody's toe had no better manners than gently to beat time. LVIII 'LINDY LOWE [Music: Come, smil-in' 'Lind-y Lowe,... de pooti-ess gal I know,... On de fin-ess boat dat ev-eh float, In de O-hi-o, De Mas-sis-sip-pi aw de O-hi-o.] Come, smilin' 'Lindy Lowe, teef whiteh dan de snow, On de finess boat dat eveh float, In de O--hi--o, De Mas--sis--sip--pi aw de O--hi--o. Come, smilin' 'Lindy Lowe, to de Lou'siana sho', (Chorus) Come, smilin' 'Lindy Lowe, by de Gu'f o' Mexico, (Chorus) Come, smilin' 'Lindy Lowe, to de bayous deep an' slow, (Chorus) Come, smilin' 'Lindy Lowe, whah de moss wave, to an' fro, (Chorus) Come, smilin' 'Lindy Lowe, de bell done ring to go, (Chorus)