noon
It required considerable and careful maneuvering to pass safely among the various river craft they found moving about on the Mississippi at this important port ; but Jack was a keen-eyed pilot , and knew just how to handle his boat , so that they managed to get by without any serious trouble , though whistled at by tugs and ferryboats as they bravely cut along . The running time was pretty well up when they saw the last of the metropolis of the Middle West . `` One hour only , and then we must pull up , Jimmie , '' remarked the skipper . '' 'T is mesilf that 's glad to hear the same , '' replied the other , with a wry look on his freckled face , and one hand pressing against his stomach , as if to call attention to its flat condition ; for they had only eaten sparingly at noon . `` You might be keeping a lookout for a harbor , '' remarked Jack ; but not with any great amount of animation . Truth to tell , he was wondering whether after all it paid to leave the river and hide up one of those gloomy looking creeks , where all sorts of dangers might be lying in wait . `` I hope as how we do n't have the same luck we had before , '' grumbled Jimmie , who apparently had not forgotten the experience either .