midnight
`` Well , de dark come , en I went on a-spinnin ' down de river . I paddled mo 'n two hours , den I war n't worried no mo ' , so I quit paddlin , en floated down de current , considerin ' what I ` uz gwine to do if I did n't have to drown myself . I made up some plans , en floated along , turnin ' 'em over in my mine . Well , when it ` uz a little pas ' midnight , as I reckoned , en I had come fifteen or twenty mile , I see de lights o ' a steamboat layin ' at de bank , whah dey war n't no town en no woodyard , en putty soon I ketched de shape o ' de chimbly-tops ag ` in ' de stars , en den good gracious me , I ` most jumped out o ' my skin for joy ! It ` uz de Gran ' Mogul -- I ` uz chambermaid on her for eight seasons in de Cincinnati en Orleans trade . I slid ` long pas ' -- do n't see nobody stirrin ' nowhah -- hear 'em a-hammerin ' away in de engine-room , den I knowed what de matter was -- some o ' de machinery 's broke . I got asho ' below de boat and turn ' de canoe loose , den I goes ` long up , en dey ` uz jes one plank out , en I step ' ` board de boat .