New Orleans, and taking molasses and imported goods on the return trip. But New Orleans was the point the employes considered the beginning and the end of the trip. This used to take about three weeks on the average. On every trip up the boat used to take on a supply of pine knots at the mouth of Red River; that was racing fuel kept ready in case any boat came in sight, that it was necessary to beat; for ihe America could beat most of them . But before reaching Red River on the return trip, that stock of pine was exhausted ; and there being nothing but Tennessee poplar and gum wood on the boat, It was no_ uncommon thing for the engineers to seize all the bacon shoulders and hams they could lay their hands on to mix with it to make more steam. The cooks thought that a very poor use to put fat bacon to, and, to prevent it, all they could lay their hands on, they cut up and laid snugly out of the engineers' reach in the bottom of their grja?e bar- rels. Captain Johnson, as may well be supposed, was averse to all such pro- ceedings, and instituted a rule which none dared break, that no soap-grease man should take away the "slush" or any part of it before he had examined it. Does the reader think that that placed the boys in a bad fix? Not at all ; they knew him well. So every trip on the day of reach- ing port he went down into the kitchen and rolled up his right sleeve. "Well, boys, how many barrels of slush have you made this trip?" (This is where the politicians get the word "slush money"). "Only eight and a half. Cap- tain,— been as saving on you as possible — it might have been ten barrels if we hadn't took good care." "Eight — nine! \s\\y you villains — what do you mean, going to rob me out of my boat?" "Captain, we had a big trip of passen- gers up, and a long trip, and the meats were some fatter than usual, and this ain't so much as last trip by half a — " "Let me see it— let mj see it — well, why don't you bring me my long flesh fork — here — no, not that, the long one. Oh you infernal rascals, I know you. I began life as a cook myself, and I know you." And with that Captain Johnson began forking the contents of the first full barrel over into the half-filled barrel that stood ready for it. By the time the full barrel was half emptied the half barrel was, of course, full ; and, having no more room, he commenced forking over the next full barrel into that he had just quit, never reaching the bottom of any barrel in the row, but keeping up his talk all the while. "You can't rob me, boys, I've got eyes and my eyes ain't sheep's eyes that you can pull the wool over — I've been a cook and I know the ropes — and — and I've pulled *em all — there, now; I've got you, what's this?" tai I^OR PROFIT. But it aHvays proved to be a bare bone or something worthless ; and so the farce was always carried out on every trip dur- ing the eight month's season, and the boys received $4 a barrel from the soap men for spending money as soon as the boat reached the wharf.

AI-modernized reading of the original text

New Orleans, and taking molasses and imported goods on the return trip. But New Orleans was the point the employes considered the beginning and the end of the trip. This used to take about three weeks on the average. On every trip up the boat used to take on a supply of pine knots at the mouth of Red River; that was racing fuel kept ready in case any boat came in sight, that it was necessary to beat; for ihe America could beat most of them . But before reaching Red River on the return trip, that stock of pine was exhausted ; and there being nothing but Tennessee poplar and gum wood on the boat, It was no uncommon thing for the engineers to seize all the bacon shoulders and hams they could lay their hands on to mix with it to make more steam. The cooks thought that a very poor use to put fat bacon to, and, to prevent it, all they could lay their hands on, they cut up and laid snugly out of the engineers' reach in the bottom of their grease barrels. Capn Johnson, as may well be supposed, was averse to all such proceedings, and instituted a rule which none dared break, that no soap-grease man should take away the "slush" or any part of it before he had examined it. Does the reader think that that placed the boys in a bad fix? Not at all ; they knew him well. So every trip on the day of reaching port he went down into the kitchen and rolled up his right sleeve. "Well, boys, how many barrels of slush have you made this trip?" (This is where the politicians get the word "slush money"). "Only eight and a half, Captain,—been as saving on you as possible—it might have been ten barrels if we hadn't took good care." "Eight—nine! Why you villains — what do you mean, going to rob me out of my boat?" "Captain, we had a big trip of passengers up, and a long trip and the meats were some fatter than usual, and this ain't so much as last trip by half a — " "Let me see it— let mj see it — well, why don't you bring me my long flesh fork — here — no, not that, the long one. Oh you infernal rascals, I know you. I began life as a cook myself, and I know you." And with that Captain Johnson began forking the contents of the first full barrel over into the half-filled barrel that stood ready for it. By the time the full barrel was half emptied the half barrel was, of course, full ; and, having no more room, he commenced forking over the next full barrel into that he had just quit, never reaching the bottom of any barrel in the row, but keeping up his talk all the while. "You can't rob me, boys, I've got eyes and my eyes ain't sheep's eyes that you can pull the wool over — I've been a cook and I know the ropes — and — and I've pulled *em all — there, now; I've got you, what's this?" tai I^OR PROFIT. But it aHvays proved to be a bare bone or something worthless ; and so the farce was always carried out on every trip during the eight month's season, and the boys received $4 a barrel from the soap men for spending money as soon as the boat reached the wharf.

Cooking for profit