In Mark Twain's autobiography, he described his early experiences working as a steamboat pilot on the Mississippi River. During his training, Twain was under the guidance of a seasoned pilot named Mr. Bixby. Mr. Bixby was known for his expertise in navigating the river and his precise knowledge of its every twist and turn.
One day, while Twain was steering the steamboat, he encountered a stretch of the river that he had never navigated before. Confident in his skills and eager to prove himself, Twain disregarded Mr. Bixby's advice and charted his own course. Unbeknownst to Twain, he had misjudged the depth of the water and steered the boat into a shallow area.
As the steamboat ran aground, Twain's confidence turned into panic. Despite his efforts, he couldn't maneuver the boat out of the predicament. In the midst of his distress, Mr. Bixby calmly stepped in and took control of the situation. With his extensive knowledge and experience, Mr. Bixby safely guided the steamboat back into deeper waters, avoiding any further damage.
This incident exemplifies dramatic irony, where the audience or readers are aware of a situation or information that the characters are not. Twain's initial overconfidence and disregard for Mr. Bixby's advice create a sense of anticipation, while Mr. Bixby's eventual rescue of the steamboat reveals the discrepancy between Twain's perceived abilities and the reality of his inexperience.