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abstruse knowledge； a living dictionary； and a thinker and philosopher
besides。 He had at least one vanity： the claim that he knew every word
in the English dictionary； and he made it good。 The younger man tried
repeatedly to discover a word that Macfarlane could not define。
Perhaps Macfarlane was vain of his other mental attainments； for he never
tired of discoursing upon deep and grave matters； and his companion never
tired of listening。 This Scotch philosopher did not always reflect the
conclusions of others； he had speculated deeply and strikingly on his own
account。 That was a good while before Darwin and Wallace gave outtheir
conclusions on the Descent of Man； yet Macfarlane was already advancing a
similar philosophy。 He went even further： Life； he said； had been
developed in the course of ages from a few microscopic seed…germsfrom
one； perhaps； planted by the Creator in the dawn of time； and that from
this beginning development on an ascending scale had finally produced
man。 Macfarlane said that the scheme had stopped there； and failed； that
man had retrograded； that man's heart was the only bad one in the animal
kingdom： that man was the only animal capable of malice； vindictiveness；
drunkennessalmost the only animal that could endure personal
uncleanliness。 He said that man's intellect was a depraving addition to
him which； in the end； placed him in a rank far below the other beasts；
though it enabled him to keep them in servitude and captivity； along with
many members of his own race。
They were long； fermenting discourses that young Samuel Clemens listened
to that winter in Macfarlane's room； and those who knew the real Mark
Twain and his philosophies will recognize that those evenings left their
impress upon him for life。
XXII
THE OLD CALL OF THE RIVER
When spring came； with budding life and quickening impulses； when the
trees in the parks began to show a hint of green； the Amazonian idea
developed afresh； and the would…be coca…hunter prepared for his
expedition。 He had saved a little moneyenough to take him to New
Orleansand he decided to begin his long trip with a peaceful journey
down the Mississippi； for once； at least； to give himself up to that
indolent luxury of the majestic stream that had been so large a part of
his early dreams。
The Ohio River steamers were not the most sumptuous craft afloat； but
they were slow and hospitable。 The winter had been bleak and hard。
〃Spring fever〃 and a large love of indolence had combined in that drowsy
condition which makes one willing to take his time。
Mark Twain tells us in Life on the Mississippi that he 〃ran away；〃 vowing
never to return until he could come home a pilot； shedding glory。 This
is a literary statement。 The pilot ambition had never entirely died； but
it was coca and the Amazon that were uppermost in his head when he
engaged passage on the Paul Jones for New Orleans； and so conferred
immortality on that ancient little craft。 He bade good…by to Macfarlane；
put his traps aboard； the bell rang； the whistle blew； the gang…plank was
hauled in； and he had set out on a voyage that was to continue not for a
week or a fortnight； but for four yearsfour marvelous； sunlit years；
the glory of which would color all that followed them。
In the Mississippi book the author conveys the impression of being then a
boy of perhaps seventeen。 Writing from that standpoint he records
incidents that were more or less inventions or that happened to others。
He was； in reality； considerably more than twenty…one years old； for it
was in April； 1857； that he went aboard the Paul Jones； and he was fairly
familiar with steamboats and the general requirements of piloting。 He
had been brought up in a town that turned out pilots； he had heard the
talk of their trade。 One at least of the Bowen boys was already on the
river while Sam Clemens was still a boy in Hannibal； and had often been
home to air his grandeur and dilate on the marvel of his work。 That
learning the river was no light task Sam Clemens very well knew。
Nevertheless； as the little boat made its drowsy way down the river into
lands that grew ever pleasanter with advancing spring； the old 〃permanent
ambition〃 of boyhood stirred again； and the call of the far…away Amazon；
with its coca and its variegated zoology； grew faint。
Horace Bixby； pilot of the Paul Jones； then a man of thirty…two； still
living （1910） and at the wheel； ＇The writer of this memoir interviewed
Mr。 Bixby personally； and has followed his phrasing throughout。＇ was
looking out over the bow at the head of Island No。 35 when he heard a
slow； pleasant voice say：
〃Good morning。〃
Bixby was a clean…cut； direct； courteous man。
〃Good morning； sir；〃 he said； briskly； without looking around。
As a rule Mr。 Bixby did not care for visitors in the pilot…house。 This
one presently came up and stood a little behind him。
〃How would you like a young man to learn the river？〃 he said。
The pilot glanced over his shoulder and saw a rather slender； loose…
limbed young fellow with a fair； girlish complexion and a great tangle of
auburn hair。
〃I wouldn't like it。 Cub pilots are more trouble than they're worth。
A great deal more trouble than profit。〃
The applicant was not discouraged。
〃I am a printer by trade；〃 he went on； in his easy； deliberate way。
〃It doesn't agree with me。 I thought I'd go to South America。〃
Bixby kept his eye on the river； but a note of interest crept into his
voice。
〃What makes you pull your words that way？〃 （〃pulling〃 being the river
term for drawling）； he asked。
The young man had taken a seat on the visitors' bench。
〃You'll have to ask my mother；〃 he said； more slowly than ever。 〃She
pulls hers； too。〃
Pilot Bixby woke up and laughed； he had a keen sense of humor； and the
manner of the reply amused him。 His guest made another advance。
〃Do you know the Bowen boys？〃 he asked〃pilots in the St。 Louis and New
Orleans trade？〃
〃I know them wellall three of them。 William Bowen did his first
steering for me； a mighty good boy； too。 Had a Testament in his pocket
when he came aboard； in a week's time he had swapped it for a pack of
cards。 I know Sam； too； and Bart。〃
〃Old schoolmates of mine in Hannibal。 Sam and Will especially were my
chums。〃
〃Come over and stand by the side of me；〃 he said。 〃What is your name？〃
The applicant told him； and the two stood looking at the sunlit water。
〃Do you drink？〃
〃No。〃
〃Do you gamble？〃
〃No； Sir。〃
〃Do you swear？〃
〃Not for amusement； only under pressure。〃
〃Do you chew？〃
〃No； sir； never； but I must smoke。〃
〃Did you ever do any steering？〃 was Bixby's next question。
〃I have steered everything on the river but a steamboat； I guess。〃
〃Very well； take the wheel and see what you can do with a steamboat。
Keep her as she istoward that lower cottonwood； snag。〃
Bixby had a sore foot and was glad of a little relief。 He sat down on
the bench and kept a careful eye on the course。 By and by he said：
〃There is just one way that I would take a young man to learn the river：
that is； for money。〃
〃What do you charge？〃
〃Five hundred d