James had hardly taken his place behind "Kit and Nance," as his team was called, when he heard the captain call out, er Careful, Jim, there's a boat coming." The boy had seen it, and was trying to pass it to the best of his ability. But his inexperience and haste occasioned a sudden tightening of the reins, and, before any one quite knew what had happened, both driver and mules were jerked into the canal. For a few seconds it seemed as if they would go to the bottom, but James was equal to the emergency, and, getting astride the forward mule, kept his head above water until rescue came. This was his initiation in canal-boat driving, and the adventure was a standing joke among his comrades for a long time. When they came to the "Eleven-Mile Lock,” the captain ordered a change of teams, and James went on board with his mules. Letcher, who is still living in Bryan, Ohio, gives the following account of his talk with the boy as they were passing the locks : I thought I'd sound Jim on education — in the rudiments of geography, arithmetic and grammar. For I was just green enough in those days to imagine I knew it all. I had been teaching school for three months in the backwoods of Steuben County, Indiana. So I asked him several quèstions, and he answered them all; and then he asked me several that I could not answer. I told him he had too good a head to be a common canal-hand." One evening when the "Evening Star" was drawing near the twenty-one locks of Akron, the captain sent his bowsman to make the first lock ready. Just as he got there, a voice hailed him through the darkness. It was from a boat above that had reached the locks first. We are just around the bend," said her bowsman, "all ready to enter." "Can't help it!" shouted the bowsman of the Evening Star," with a volley of oaths; "we've got to hev this lock first!" The captain was so used to these contests on the canal that he did not often interfere, but it was a new experience to James. He tapped his cousin Amos on the shoulder, and said, "Does that lock belong to us?" "Well, I suppose not, according to law," was the answer, "but we will have it, anyhow." "No! we will not!" he exclaimed. ee But why?" said the captain. "Why?" he repeated, "because it don't belong to us." Struck with the boy's sense of right, and ashamed of his own carelessness, the captain called out to his men, "Hold on, hold on! Let them have the lock." When the boatmen knew that their fight had been prevented by James's interference they were greatly incensed, and began to call him" coward” and all sorts of derogatory names. The boy only smiled; he knew he could vindicate his rights when the time came, and it was not long before he had an opportunity. The boat had just reached Beaver, and James was on deck with his setting-pole against his shoulder; a sudden lurch wrenched it from him and threw it upon one of the boat-hands, who was standing close by. Beg pardon, Dave," said the boy quickly; "it was an accident.” The great, rough man, however, would take no apology, and rushed upon James with clenched fists. A fight seemed inevitable, but with one well-directed blow, the boy of sixteen threw down his burly antagonist, and held him fast. “Pound him, James! Give him a good thrashing!" exclaimed the captain. १९ Not when he is down and in my power," said the boy. Then, letting his conquered foe rise, he said, Come, Dave, give us your hand!" and from that time forth they were the best of friends. He's dif'rent from the rest on us that's sartin- but he's a good un, got a mighty sight o' pluck," said the whole crew. |