Henry and Shif'less Sol took advantage of the opportunity, and sent bullet after bullet among them, aiming more particularly at the light bark canoes.

Three filled and began to sink and their occupants had to be rescued.

The utmost confusion and consternation reigned in the savage fleet, and the distance between it and "The Galleon" widened rapidly as the latter bore in a diagonal course across the Mississippi.
"They've had all they want," said Henry, as he laid down his rifle and took up the oars again, "but it's this big heavy boat that's saved us.
She's been a regular floating fort." "We took our gall-yun just in time," said Shif'less Sol jubilantly, "an' she is shore the greatest warship that ever floated on these waters.

Oh, she's a fine boat, a beautiful boat, the reg'lar King o' the seas!" "Queen, you mean," said Paul, who felt the reaction.
"No, King it is," replied Sol stoutly.

"A boat that carries travelers may be a she, but shorely one that fights like this is a he." The fog was gone, save for occasional wisps of white mist, but the day had not yet come, and the night was by no means light.