Chapters 20-21 Summary

Twain became entranced by the idea of exploring the Amazon River. He took a steamboat to New Orleans, thinking to go from there to Peru. However, since no ships went to Peru from New Orleans, and Twain had no money or friends in New Orleans, he asked the steamboat pilot to teach him that profession. Thus began Twain's career on the Mississippi River.

Twain helped his younger brother Henry to get work on steamboats, too. In 1858, Henry died as a result of a boiler explosion aboard the Pennsylvania. This incident happened just a few weeks after Twain had a particularly vivid dream, in which Henry was dead in his casket.

The Civil War cut short Twain's career as a steamboat captain. In June 1861, he joined the Confederates, but then he resigned two weeks later, "due to fatigue from retreating."

He then...