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early as it did。 You will never die of water； although your career
upon it in the future seems well sprinkled with misfortune。 You
will continue upon the water for some time yet； you will not retire
finally until ten years from now。。。。 What is your brother's age？
23and a lawyer？ and in pursuit of an office？ Well； he stands a
better chance than the other two； and he may get it； he is too
visionaryis always flying off on a new hobby； this will never do
tell him I said so。 He is a good lawyera very good lawyerand a
fine speakeris very popular and much respected； and makes many
friends； but although he retains their friendship； he loses their
confidence by displaying his instability of character。。。。 The land
he has now will be very valuable after a while
'S。 L。 C。' Say 250 years hence； or thereabouts； Madame
'Madame。' Noless timebut never mind the land； that is a
secondary considerationlet him drop that for the present； and
devote himself to his business and politics with all his might； for
he must hold offices under Government。。。。
After a while you will possess a good deal of propertyretire at
the end of ten yearsafter which your pursuits will be literary
try the lawyou will certainly succeed。 I am done now。 If you
have any questions to askask them freelyand if it be in my
power； I will answer without reservewithout reserve。
I asked a few questions of minor importance…paid her and left…under
the decided impression that going to the fortune…teller's was just
as good as going to the opera； and cost scarcely a trifle more
ergo； I will disguise myself and go again； one of these days； when
other amusements fail。 Now isn't she the devil？ That is to say；
isn't she a right smart little woman？
When you want money； let Ma know； and she will send it。 She and
Pamela are always fussing about change； so I sent them a hundred and
twenty quarters yesterdayfiddler's change enough to last till I
get back； I reckon。
SAM。
In the light of preceding and subsequent events； we must confess that
Madame Caprell was 〃indeed a right smart little woman。〃 She made
mistakes enough （the letter is not quoted in full）； but when we remember
that she not only gave his profession at the moment； but at least
suggested his career for the future； that she approximated the year of
his father's death as the time when he was thrown upon the world； that
she admonished him against his besetting habit； tobacco； that she read。
minutely not only his characteristics； but his brother Orion's； that she
outlined the struggle in his conquest of the river； that she seemingly
had knowledge of Orion's legal bent and his connection with the Tennessee
land； all seems remarkable enough； supposing； of course； she had no
material means of acquiring knowledgeone can never know certainly about
such things。
XXIX
THE END OF PILOTING
It is curious； however； that Madame Caprell； with clairvoyant vision；
should not have seen an important event then scarcely more than two
months distant： the breaking…out of the Civil War； with the closing of
the river and the end of Mark Twain's career as a pilot。 Perhaps these
things were so near as to be 〃this side〃 the range of second sight。
There had been plenty of war…talk； but few of the pilots believed that
war was really coming。 Traveling that great commercial highway； the
river； with intercourse both of North and South； they did not believe
that any political differences would be allowed to interfere with the
nation's trade； or would be settled otherwise than on the street corners；
in the halls of legislation； and at the polls。 True； several States；
including Louisiana； had declared the Union a failure and seceded； but
the majority of opinions were not clear as to how far a State had rights
in such a matter； or as to what the real meaning of secession might be。
Comparatively few believed it meant war。 Samuel Clemens had no such
belief。 His Madame Caprell letter bears date of February 6； 1861； yet
contains no mention of war or of any special excitement in New Orleans
no forebodings as to national conditions。
Such things came soon enough： President Lincoln was inaugurated on the
4th of March； and six weeks later Fort Sumter was fired upon。 Men began
to speak out then and to take sides。
It was a momentous time in the Association Rooms。 There were pilots who
would go with the Union； there were others who would go with the
Confederacy。 Horace Bixby was one of the former； and in due time became
chief of the Union River Service。 Another pilot named Montgomery （Samuel
Clemens had once steered for him） declared for the South； and later
commanded the Confederate Mississippi fleet。 They were all good friends；
and their discussions； though warm； were not always acrimonious； but they
took sides。
A good many were not very clear as to their opinions。 Living both North
and South as they did； they saw various phases of the question and
divided their sympathies。 Some were of one conviction one day and of
another the next。 Samuel Clemens was of the less radical element。 He
knew there was a good deal to be said for either cause； furthermore； he
was not then bloodthirsty。 A pilot…house with its elevated position and
transparency seemed a poor place to be in when fighting was going on。
〃I'll think about it；〃 he said。 〃I'm not very anxious to get up into a
glass perch and be shot at by either side。 I'll go home and reflect on
the matter。〃
He did not realize it； but he had made his last trip as a pilot。 It is
rather curious that his final brief note…book entry should begin with his
future nom de plumea memorandum of soundings〃mark twain；〃 and should
end with the words 〃no lead。〃
He went up the river as a passenger on a steamer named the Uncle Sam。
Zeb Leavenworth was one of the pilots； and Sam Clemens usually stood
watch with him。 They heard war…talk all the way and saw preparations；
but they were not molested； though at Memphis they basely escaped the
blockade。 At Cairo； Illinois； they saw soldiers drillingtroops later
commanded by Grant。 The Uncle Sam came steaming up toward St。 Louis；
those on board congratulating themselves on having come through
unscathed。 They were not quite through； however。 Abreast of Jefferson
Barracks they suddenly heard the boom of a cannon and saw a great whorl
of smoke drifting in their direction。 They did not realize that it was a
signala thunderous haltand kept straight on。 Less than a minute
later there was another boom； and a shell exploded directly in front of
the pilot…house； breaking a lot of glass and destroying a good deal of
the upper decoration。 Zeb Leavenworth fell back into a corner with a
yell。
〃Good Lord Almighty！ Sam；〃 he said； 〃what do they mean by that？〃
Clemens stepped to the wheel and brought the boat around。 〃I guess they
want us to wait a minute； Zeb；〃 he said。
They were examined and passed。 It was the last steamboat to make the
trip