This thing was becoming serious.
In by the shore was a slower boat clipping along in the easy water and gaining steadily; she began to make for an island chute; Stephen stuck to the middle of the river.

Speech was WRUNG from the captain.

He said-- 'Mr.W----, don't that chute cut off a good deal of distance ?' 'I think it does, but I don't know.' 'Don't know! Well, isn't there water enough in it now to go through ?' 'I expect there is, but I am not certain.' 'Upon my word this is odd! Why, those pilots on that boat yonder are going to try it.

Do you mean to say that you don't know as much as they do ?' 'THEY! Why, THEY are two-hundred-and-fifty-dollar pilots! But don't you be uneasy; I know as much as any man can afford to know for a hundred and twenty-five!' The captain surrendered.
Five minutes later Stephen was bowling through the chute and showing the rival boat a two-hundred-and-fifty-dollar pair of heels..