"We hain't a goin' yet awhile," bellowed the commander of the _Nancy Jane_. "The durned old whistle is stuck and a lettin' all the steam out of the old biler." Dr. Jackson and Kelly repaired to the engine room to inspect conditions. In a moment the medical man returned, and, procuring his surgical case, hurried back towards the hissing boiler. "It's de fust time ah evah seed er Doctor called fo' er enjine," Ike told Serena. "Maybe it got de pip." "It soun' mo'e lak de croup," chuckled Serena. With characteristic energy, the doctor applied a bandage to the whistle which so confined the steam that Sim was able, with sundry taps of a wrench, to abate "the hemorrhage of vapor," as the medical man termed it. There followed a pleasant period for friendly conversation, disturbed only by the cries of infants, the scrape of the shovel, and the clang of the furnace door. During this time, the skipper sat on a box and pensively viewed the slow movement of the needle of the steam gauge. Finally he became energetic. Climbing upon the bank, he cast off the forward hawser of the _Nancy Jane_. Noting the eyes of the passengers to be upon him, he assumed a care free air tinged with a certain dignity, as if the handling of the _Nancy Jane_, a perplexing problem to others, was a trifling matter to him. Likewise, he entered into explanations, ostensibly for Sim's benefit. "I've cast off the bow line. I'm agoin' to let the current swing er out, then we'll start ahead and you cast off that stern line." Before the eyes of the marveling mothers, Mr. Quince assumed a position at the extreme front of the boat, on a small deck beyond the railing. He held the pole across his body, as the balancing stick of a tightrope walker, and watched the current swing the _Nancy Jane_ away from the bank. Sim waited, motionless as a statue, with a grimy paw on the throttle. "Let 'er go," sang Mr. Quince, as from the bridge of the _Leviathan_, his powerful voice echoing against the bluffs far up the river. With much groaning and creaking the engine took up the play of its gearing, and choked down with a grunt as the paddles of the water wheel stuck in the clay bank. Seizing their babies, the mothers arose and screamed. The infants also gave tongue. As one man, Dr. Jackson and Kelly sprang to their feet. "Sit down," they shouted. "Is de biler gwine blow up?" Serena asked Ike, nervously. "Dat ole enjine jes balky. Dat's all," he reassured her. In this moment of marine disaster, Mr. Quince displayed great coolness and judgment. "Look out," he shouted to Sim, and leaped ashore with great agility. From this position of vantage he commanded, "Stop 'er!" He then displayed wonderful presence of mind by casting off the stern line. Returning on board, he seized his pole and pushed the _Nancy Jane_ out into the river.