Bobby Blake on a Plantation; Or, Lost in the Great Swamp

but very efficient tugboats pushed and hauled at the heavy steamer, butting their stubby noses desperately against her towering sides to counteract the effects of the stron

eir own boat could get safely started without colliding with any of the swarming smaller craft. But after much maneuveri

ut here without bumping something. I always thought it was kind of hard to dodge el

et we've got lots of chances yet to hit something before we get to New Orleans. The man that steers this

some other ghastly possibility, "you'll have us really enjoying t

ht that we experienced sailors should prepare you for the worst. Of course, we may be luc

I'm not going to ask the captain to stop the boat now and let me walk ashore

ghed Bobby. "But maybe when he gets his first

y. Here the tugs left it, and the great steamer vibrated from stem to stern as its powerful engines took up the task appointed the

ed Bobby. "Just fill your l

. "But a little something to fill my st

by. "But since you mention it, I begin

uth, but his voice lacked the tone of si

uired. "You don't mean to tell m

e I'm not

d. "He just doesn't feel well, that's all. People are often that

sympathy. "What you need, Lee, is a good bang up supper

tty quick, if you don't stop talking about eats," retorted Lee. "You two go on down a

ger," was Fred's parting shot, as he and B

ly, with appetites no whit affected by the uneasy motion of the ship. When they had finished, t

ewhat feeble grin, "but I've got lots of company, anyway. Most e

id Bobby. "If you can get a decent rest to-

was talking about," went on the boy from the South. "If I could get

On the second day of the trip, they noticed that the air was becoming perceptibly warmer, and knew that they were getting into southern waters. Schools of porpoises raced with the ship, and the boys never tired watching them shooting through the water just under the ship's

me of the remarks passed on his own seamanship. "I may not be as salty

ou certainly are coming along fast. Some day, when you get

e. "Good old solid ground is good enough for me. Seems

by. "The wind is getting stronger every minu

a big wave dashed against the b

and Fred lingered a while, but were soon, forced to seek shelter in the lee of a deckhouse. They could see me