All was gaiety and animation oh board the vessel.  People from countries widely separated mingled with each other and chatted with the greatest freedom on every subject of human interest.  Acquaintances were made without the formality of an introduction, and it was not long before the two adventurers were drawn into conversation.

“I have traveled all over the world,” said a gentleman of foreign air, “but I have never seen anything so picturesque as this boat.  Look at the variegated colors and styles of these costumes, at the manifold types of countenance, at the blending of races—­black and white and red!  Listen to the discordant but altogether charming sounds, the ringing of the great bell, the roar of the whistle, the splash of the paddlewheels, the songs of the negroes, and the clatter of dishes in the cabins!  It is a hurly-burly of noise!  Then what varied scenery, what constant excitement at the landing, what a hodge-podge, a pot-pourri of merchandise!  There is nothing like it in the world.”

“Wait until you see a race with another steamer,” said an officious Yankee, who rejoiced in a knowledge which frequent trips had given him.

“Are they exciting?” asked the foreigner.

“Well I should say!  I have seen horse races and prize fights in my day, but I never ran against anything that shook up my nerves like a race between two of these river boats!  Every pound of steam is crowded on, the engines groan like imprisoned devils, a darkey sits on the safety valve, the stokers jam the furnaces, the passengers crowd the gunwales, everybody yells at the top of his voice until pandemonium is mere silence compared to it!  And then the betting!  Lord, you never saw betting if you never saw a river race.”

“They bet, do they?”

“Bet?  They don’t do anything else!  Just got on at Louisville?  Oh! well, you’ll see sights in the cabin to-night that will open your eyes.  Isn’t that so?” he asked, turning to a southern planter who had been edging his way toward Pepeeta.

“Reckon the gentleman’ll see a little gambling, sah, if that’s what you refeh to.  I’ve heard those that ought to know say that a Mississippi river boat is the toughest spot on top of earth for little games of pokah and that soht of thing, sah.  ’Spect the gentleman can be accommodated if he likes a lively game of chance.”

“I don’t expect to be surprised in that line,” the foreigner said, with the air of one who knew a thing or two; “for I have been in Monte Carlo, Carlsbad and every famous gambling place in Europe.”

“Well, sah, I don’t know; I have never been in those places myself, but I have heard those who have say that what they play there is mere ’penny ante’ to what goes on in one of these yere Mississippi boats.  Like a little game now and then myself, sah.  Glad to have you join me.”