Leej stood at the stern rail watching the dark wake that the steamboat was leaving in the muddy Mississippi water. It was a very hot day, but a light breeze had sprung up aft and was bathing him in droplets of the fine mist that was being thrown up by the paddlewheel. A sweet essence was on the breeze, as well, and Leej recognized it as the scent of Magnolia blossoms. He savored the glass of cool whiskey pilfered from one of the contraband casks in the hull.

At the limit of his vision, Leej studied a dark plume of smoke that stood out against the clear sky. He also began to imagine that he could hear the thrum of engines at a slightly higher pitch than that of the Hansell. At the same time that his eyes detected a glint of sunlight on distant glass, his ears took in the brief wooop of a steam whistle. It had to be the Maid of Ohio, and no more than six miles astern.

He heard a footstep on the deck behind him and turned to see the Captain gazing at the distant apparition. Catspaugh stood gazing intently for several seconds, then disappeared. As Leej drained the dregs from his tumbler, he felt the mighty vibration of the engines increase in pitch, and saw the mist fountain from the paddle wheel elevate several feet. Leej grinned. "Hot DAMN!!!"