If the reports in the last box chanced to leave any misgivings on his mind concerning a treacherous crossing, he had his remedy; he blew his steam-whistle in a peculiar way as soon as he saw a boat approaching; the signal was answered in a peculiar way if that boat's pilots were association men; and then the two steamers ranged alongside and all uncertainties were swept away by fresh information furnished to the inquirer by word of mouth and in minute detail.
The first thing a pilot did when he reached New Orleans or St.Louis was to take his final and elaborate report to the association parlors and hang it up there,--after which he was free to visit his family.

In these parlors a crowd was always gathered together, discussing changes in the channel, and the moment there was a fresh arrival, everybody stopped talking till this witness had told the newest news and settled the latest uncertainty.

Other craftsmen can 'sink the shop,' sometimes, and interest themselves in other matters.

Not so with a pilot; he must devote himself wholly to his profession and talk of nothing else; for it would be small gain to be perfect one day and imperfect the next.

He has no time or words to waste if he would keep 'posted.' But the outsiders had a hard time of it.