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gave him a bed in his house； where he fell into a stupor of fatigue and
surrender。 It was many hours before he woke； when he did； at last； he
dressed and went to where Henry lay。 The coffin provided for the dead
were of unpainted wood； but the youth and striking face of Henry Clemens
had aroused a special interest。 The ladies of Memphis had made up a fund
of sixty dollars and bought for him a metallic case。 Samuel Clemens
entering； saw his brother lying exactly as he had seen him in his dream；
lacking only the bouquet of white flowers with its crimson centera
detail made complete while he stood there； for at that moment an elderly
lady came in with a large white bouquet； and in the center of it was a
single red rose。
Orion arrived from Tennessee； and the brothers took their sorrowful
burden to St。 Louis； subsequently to Hannibal； his old home。 The death
of this lovely boy was a heavy sorrow to the community where he was
known； for he had been a favorite with all。 ＇For a fine
characterization of Henry Clemens the reader is referred to a letter
written by Orion Clemens to Miss Wood。 See Appendix A； at the end of the
last volume。＇
》From Hannibal the family returned to Pamela's home in St。 Louis。 There
one night Orion heard his brother moaning and grieving and walking the
floor of his room。 By and by Sam came in to where Orion was。 He could
endure it no longer； he said； he must；〃tell somebody。〃
Then he poured all the story of that last tragic night。 It has been set
down here because it accounts for much in his after…life。 It magnified
his natural compassion for the weakness and blunders of humanity； while
it increased the poor opinion implanted by the Scotchman Macfarlane of
the human being as a divine invention。 Two of Mark Twain's chief
characteristics wereconsideration for the human species； and contempt
for it。
In many ways he never overcame the tragedy of Henry's death。 He never
really looked young again。 Gray hairs had come； as he said； and they did
not disappear。 His face took on the serious； pathetic look which from
that time it always had in repose。 At twenty…three he looked thirty。 At
thirty he looked nearer forty。 After that the discrepancy in age and
looks became less notable。 In vigor； complexion； and temperament he was
regarded in later life as young for his years； but never in looks。
XXVII
THE PILOT
The young pilot returned to the river as steersman for George Ealer； whom
he loved； and in September of that year obtained a full license as
Mississippi River pilot。 ＇In Life on the Mississippi he gives his
period of learning at from two to two and a half years； but documentary
evidence as well as Mr。 Bixby's testimony places the apprenticeship at
eighteen months＇ Bixby had returned by this time； and they were again
together； first on the Crescent City； later on a fine new boat called the
New Falls City。 Clemens was still a steersman when Bixby returned； but
as soon as his license was granted （September 9； 1858） his old chief took
him as full partner。
He was a pilot at last。 In eighteen months he had packed away in his
head all the multitude of volatile statistics and acquired that
confidence and courage which made him one of the elect； a river
sovereign。 He knew every snag and bank and dead tree and reef in all
those endless miles between St。 Louis and New Orleans； every cut…off and
current； every depth of waterthe whole storyby night and by day。 He
could smell danger in the dark； he could read the surface of the water as
an open page。 At twenty…three he had acquired a profession which
surpassed all others for absolute sovereignty and yielded an income equal
to that then earned by the Vice…President of the United States。 Boys
generally finish college at about that age； but it is not likely that any
boy ever finished college with the mass of practical information and
training that was stored away in Samuel Clemens's head； or with his
knowledge of human nature； his preparation for battle with the world。
〃Not only was he a pilot； but a good one。〃 These are Horace Bixby's
words； and he added：
〃It is the fashion to…day to disparage Sam's piloting。 Men who were born
since he was on the river and never saw him will tell you that Sam was
never much of a pilot。 Most of them will tell you that he was never a
pilot at all。 As a matter of fact； Sam was a fine pilot； and in a day
when piloting on the Mississippi required a great deal more brains and
skill and application than it does now。 There were no signal…lights
along the shore in those days； and no search…lights on the vessels；
everything was blind； and on a dark； misty night in a river full of snags
and shifting sandbars and changing shores； a pilot's judgment had to be
founded on absolute certainty。〃
He had plenty of money now。 He could help his mother with a liberal
hand； and he did it。 He helped Orion； too； with money and with advice。
》From a letter written toward the end of the year； we gather the new
conditions。 Orion would seem to have been lamenting over prospects； and
the young pilot； strong and exalted in his new estate； urges him to
renewed consistent effort：
What is a government without energy？ ＇he says＇。 And what is a
man without energy？ Nothingnothing at all。 What is the grandest
thing in 〃Paradise Lost〃the Arch…Fiend's terrible energy！ What
was the greatest feature in Napoleon's character？ His unconquerable
energy！ Sum all the gifts that man is endowed with； and we give our
greatest share of admiration to his energy。 And to…day； if I were a
heathen； I would rear a statue to Energy； and fall down and worship
it！
I want a man toI want you totake up a line of action； and follow
it out； in spite of the very devil。
Orion and his wife had returned to Keokuk by this time； waiting for
something in the way of a business opportunity。
His pilot brother； wrote him more than once letters of encouragement and
council。 Here and there he refers to the tragedy of Henry's death； and
the shadow it has cast upon his life； but he was young； he was
successful； his spirits were naturally exuberant。 In the exhilaration of
youth and health and success he finds vent at times in that natural human
outlet； self…approval。 He not only exhibits this weakness； but confesses
it with characteristic freedom。
Putting all things together； I begin to think I am rather lucky than
otherwisea notion which I was slow to take up。 The other night I
was about to 〃round to〃 for a storm； but concluded that I could find
a smoother bank somewhere。 I landed five miles below。 The storm
came； passed away and did not injure us。 Coming up； day before
yesterday； I looked at the spot I first chose； and half the trees on
the bank were torn to shreds。 We couldn't have lived 5 minutes in
such a tornado。 And I am also lucky in having a berth； while all
the other young pilots are idle。 This is the luckiest circumstance
that ever befell me。 Not on account of the wagesfor that is a
secondary consideration…but from the fact that