In the days of Samuel Clemens, better known as Mark Twain, life on a steamboat on the Mississippi River was 41 . One of the most exciting 42 of that period was a rac43 two of the fastest river boats. The Natchez had steamed up the river from New Orleans to St. Louis in three days, twenty-one hours, and fifty-eight minutes. John Cannon, 44 of the Robert E. Lee felt sure that he could 45 this time and challenged the captain of the Natchez. 46 his boat light, Captain Cannon 47 no passengers 48 ; he did not 49 the usual goods. Moreover, he had crews with supplies of coal waiting on floats along the river so that the boat would not have to put it to shore for 50 . The race began on June 30, 1870. Being lighter than the Natchez, the Lee jumped into an early lead. For three days the race continued, 51 the boats travelling at full steam. They were 52 each other the whole time, 53 short spaces when bends in the river hid one or the other from view. Then only a few hours from its goal, the Natchez 54 a rock and ran aground (搁浅) . The Lee steamed proudly into St. Louis in exactly three days, eighteen hours, and thirty minutes after she had left New Orleans. Bell rang, and people called 55 the boat named after the general 56 as an army engineer had prevented the river from changing its course and St. Louis 57 becoming an inland town. The Lee 58 a good record---one that brought honor to all rivermen. However, the great day of the river steamers was drawing to 59 . The 60 won the passenger and goods business from the river boats. There are boats on the river today. But they are not the white birds that attracted young Samuel Clemens.