The "Burster" is blown to atoms! The captain jumps down, and joins the wild Kentucky boys in a yell of victory, through the bass notes of which may be heard the shrill voice of the old lady, crying, "I did it, I did it--it's all my bacon!" The struggle over, and the excitement passed, they return and pick up such portions of the human frame as may be found worth preserving .-- To resume.
Our captain was overtaken by a telegraphic message, requiring his appearance on a certain day to answer a charge of libel.

From what I could glean, it seems that the captain, considering himself cheated by a person with whom he had been transacting business, took the liberty of saying to him, "Well, you're a darned infernal rascal, fix it anyhow you will!" The insulted person sued for 2500 dollars damages, and the captain was obliged to leave us, that he might go and defend his cause.
He was a good type of a "hard-a-weather-bird," and I was sorry to see him obliged to quit the ship.

I told him so, adding, that if he deserted us, we should be sure to get snagged, or something worse.

He replied,--"Oh, no, sir; I guess you'll be safe enough; I shall leave my clerk in charge; he's been a captain of these boats; you'll be right enough, sir." And away he went ashore at Memphis, leaving us to continue our course to New Orleans.
Night came on, and we all toddled off to roost.

I am habitually a very sound sleeper, dropping off the moment I turn in, and never awaking till daylight.