Mississippi

The largest river in the United States and the site of Twain's stories is the Mississippi.

Paul Jones

One of the first steamboats on which Twain worked was named the Paul Jones.

Hat Island

Hat Island is an important island in the Mississippi; Bixby must get the boat past it at one point and nearly goes over it.

Pilot

The pilot chooses the boat's direction.

Steersman

A worker of lesser rank than the pilot on board a steamboat is the steersman.

Cub

A trainee on the steamboat is a cub.

Captain

The head of the steamboat's crew is the captain.

Steamboat

A steamboat is a large boat, usually carrying passengers, powered by steam. They were common on the Mississippi during the nineteenth century.

Ditch

An area where men filled in the river with land to cut off large detours that made the journey down or up the...