Question

In "A Cub Pilot,"what does the author mean when he says that the Mississippi is "fickle"?

The river is only one of many that pilots can work.
The river provides work for many pilots.
The river often floods, endagnering people who live near it.
The river changes constantly, requiring pilots to relearn it.

Answer 1

The author means that the Mississippi is volatile and not easily predictable. Because the river is always changing there is no way to be absolutely sure of whether or not it has flooded or altered it's path, or brought additional unseen obstacles into the way.