The lines were soon separated, but the impetus of Captain Letcher’s boat, in the delay, pushed it up square with the horses, when the steersman called out:

“Hurrah, Jim, whip up that team, or your line will ketch on the bridge!” There was a waste-way just ahead.

“Ay!” James answered, as he whipped the mules into a trot.

“Steady, steady!” called the captain, fearing that James was rushing into trouble by too much speed. The caution was too late, however. Just as the team reached the middle of the bridge the lines tightened, and jerked driver and mules into the canal.

“Quick! help!” shouted the captain, and every man ran to their rescue.

“Hold on, Jim!” cried the bowman, meaning that James should understand deliverance was at hand. James was holding on as well as he could, with two stupid mules to manage in the water. For some minutes it was difficult to tell how the affair would terminate, for there was serious danger that mules and driver would go to the bottom together. But it had always been James’s good fortune to come to the top. So he did here; and he was soon astride the leading mule, urging him out of the difficulty. A few minutes only elapsed before all were rescued, with no injury except a good ducking.

During the process of rescuing the unfortunate victims of the accident, there was no jesting or light remarks, but one serious, earnest effort to save the mules and to rescue James. But no sooner were the sufferers safe on the tow-path, than a general laughter and merry time over the mishap ensued.

“Yer a good Baptist now, Jim,” exclaimed one of the steersmen, terminating his explosive laughter.

“Yer see how we ’nitiate greenhorns into canal bisniss,” said another of the men.

“I kind o’ thought yer was a gonner at first,” added a third.

Finally, the captain said, jocosely, “Jim, what was you doin’ down there in the canal?”

“Takin’ my mornin’ bath,” answered James. “Refreshin’.”

“Washin’ the mules, I reckon’d,” chimed in one of the men.

“All ready, now!” shouted the captain; “Jim has washed himself, and is now ready to proceed to bisness. All aboard!” And they were off in a jiffy.

The bantering did not cease with that day. Many a hearty laugh was enjoyed over it for several days, and James was the subject of many jocose remarks; all of which served to keep the crew in good humour.

James enjoyed it as well as the rest of them.

At “Eleven Mile Lock,” the captain ordered a change of teams. James went on board with his mules, and the other driver took the tow-path with his fresh mules.

“Goin’ to take the mules into yer bunk with yer, as yer did in a-swimmin’?” remarked one of the hands.

“Put up your team, Jim, and then come on deck,” said the captain, addressing James; “I want to see you.”

James took good care of his mules, and went on deck.

“Jim, I hear there is some come-out to you, and if you have no objections, I would like to make up my own mind in regard to it. It is a long ways to Pancake Lock, and this will be a good time; so I should like to ask you a few questions.”