"Why, Captaing," drawled out the wood merchant, with a sort of leer on his yellow countenance, which clearly indicated that his wood was as good as sold, "wood's riz since you went down two weeks ago; besides, you are awar that you very seldom stop going _down_--when you're going _up_ you're sometimes obleeged to give me a call, becaze the current's aginst you, and there's no other woodyard for nine miles ahead; and if you happen to be nearly out of fooel, why--" "Well, well," interrupted the Captain, "we'll take a few cords, under the circumstances," and he returned to his game of brag. In about half an hour we felt the _Caravan_ commence paddling again. Supper was over, and I retired to my upper berth, situated alongside and overlooking the brag-table, where the Captain was deeply engaged, having now the _other_ pilot as his principal opponent. We jogged on quietly--and seemed to be going at a good rate. "How does that wood burn?" inquired the Captain of the mate, who was looking on at the game. "'Tisn't of much account, I reckon," answered the mate; "it's cottonwood, and most of it green at that." "Well Thompson--(Three aces again, stranger--I'll take that X and the small change, if you please. It's your deal)--Thompson, I say, we'd better take three or four cords at the next woodyard--it can't be more than six miles from here--(Two aces and a bragger, with the age! Hand over those V's)." The game went on, and the paddles kept moving. At eleven o'clock it was reported to the Captain that we were nearing the woodyard, the light being distinctly seen by the pilot on duty. "Head her in shore, then, and take in six cords if it's good--see to it, Thompson; I can't very well leave the game now--it's getting right warm! This pilot's beating us all to smash." The wooding completed, we paddled on again. The Captain seemed somewhat vexed when the mate informed him that the price was the same as at the last woodyard--_three and a quarter_; but soon again became interested in the game. From my upper berth (there were no state-rooms _then_) I could observe the movements of the players. All the contention appeared to be between the Captain and the pilots (the latter personages took it turn and turn about, steering and playing brag), _one_ of them almost invariably winning, while the two passengers merely went through the ceremony of dealing, cutting, and paying up their "anties." They were anxious to _learn the game_--and they _did_ learn it! Once in a while, indeed, seeing they had two aces and a bragger, they would venture a bet of five or ten dollars, but they were always compelled to back out before the tremendous bragging of the Captain or pilot--or if they did venture to "call out" on "two bullits and a bragger," they had the mortification to find one of the officers had the same kind of a hand, and were _more venerable_! Still, with all these disadvantages, they continued playing--they wanted to learn the game.