He then retired to a log where he seated himself in the centre of a number of his darkey friends.
After a consultation, he returned and announced that the figure would be twenty-five dollars.
"Why, what do you mean, you black rascal!" exclaimed Paul, "it will really be only one day's work.

How much do you make a day gathering driftwood ?" "Two an' foah bits a day sah." "And you want twenty-five out of me for one day's work?
I will give you three dollars." "All right, boss, all right, sah," responded Gabriel without a moment's hesitation.
Soon after, Paul and the newspaper man were approached by a darkey, who introduced himself as Mr.Brown.He said: "I heah dat yo' hab engage Gabe fur pilot ye' down to New Yorleans.

Dat niggah don' know nofing 'bout de riber, sah, no sah, me do dough, an, me'll go down fur nothin' sah." "Are you sure you understand the channel down the river ?" asked Paul.
"Deed I do, sah, I knows mos' oh the cat-fish tween heah an' dere." "Consider yourself engaged, providing you can get the boat away from Gabriel." "Dats all right sah, lebe dat to me," Mr.Brown answered.

A liberal supply of hay for the comfort of the reporter was placed in the row boat.
As the hour approached for them to depart, the levee was thronged with darkies of all sizes and ages, who gazed in open mouthed astonishment, when they saw the dark form in rubber appear and step into the Mississippi.

By a clever ruse Mr.Brown got charge of the boat and shoved her off, much to the discomfiture of Gabriel.