“Bad business for you,” said the man.

“Not so bad as it might be,” answered Mr. Lincoln. “Rather lucky, I think, to meet with such an accident where help is close by.”

“But you’ve lost your cargo, though we may save some of it if we set about it.”

“Won’t save much of it, I’m thinkin.’ The water is ten or fifteen feet deep there.”

“Hardly that.”

“Pretty near it, I’ll warrant.”

By this time they had reached the bank of the river, and the men were consulting together about righting Lincoln’s boat and saving his cargo. Such accidents were not uncommon on the Ohio, and those who lived along the bank had lent a helping hand to many unfortunate adventurers. This was the case with the men who came to Lincoln’s rescue. They were not long in laying their plans, nor dilatory in executing them.

In a short time they secured his boat, and succeeded in putting it in good trim. They proceeded, also, to save so much of his cargo as they could. They called other men in the neighbourhood, and, with such apparatus as the vicinity afforded, they raked the river, and recovered a part of his carpenter’s tools, axes, a spider, and some other articles. By much perseverance and hard labour they succeeded in saving three barrels of the whiskey. All these articles were reloaded upon Lincoln’s boat, and, with many thanks to the kind-hearted men for their assistance, he proceeded on his way.

Before starting again, however, he consulted the men who aided him with regard to the future of his way; and he decided, in view of the information derived from them, to land at Thompson’s Ferry, and there secure a team to convey his goods into the interior. He had previously settled in his mind, as we have said, what part of Indiana he should make his home.

Accordingly he took his boat and goods to Thompson’s Ferry, and there he found a man by the name of Posey, whom he hired to take him eighteen miles, into what is now Spencer County. This Posey owned a yoke of oxen, and was quite well acquainted with that section of country.

“No road into that country,” said he. “We shall have to pick our way, and use the axe some of that.”

“I am sorry for that,” answered Lincoln. “Are there no settlers in that region?”

“Yes; here and there one, and they’ll be right glad to see you. We can put it through, if you say so.”

“Put it through, then, I say,” replied Lincoln.

The man agreed to carry his goods to his place of destination, and take his boat for pay. Lincoln would have no further use for his boat, so that it was a good bargain for him, and equally good for Posey, who wanted a boat.

Accordingly, the team was loaded with his effects, and they were soon on their way. But, within a few miles, they were obliged to use the axe to make a road.

“Just as I expected,” said Posey. “I have been through the mill.”

“How far do you expect we shall have to cut through places like this?” inquired Lincoln.

“Far enough, I have no doubt; this is a real wilderness.”