The captain was very strict; therefore I knew better than to touch a bell without orders.

My duty was to hold the boat steadily on her calamitous course, and leave the consequences to take care of themselves--which I did.

So we went plowing past the sterns of steamboats and getting closer and closer--the crash was bound to come very soon--and still that hat never budged; for alas, the captain was napping in the texas....

Things were becoming exceedingly nervous and uncomfortable.

It seemed to me that the captain was not going to appear in time to see the entertainment.