One night we had lain with our flotilla on the Virginia coast.  It was perceived, at early daylight, that the inner ark, which was Mr. Thomas’s, and which was loaded with valuable machinery, was partly sunk, being pressed against the bank by the other arks, and the water was found to be flowing in above the caulked seams.  A short time must have carried the whole down.  After a good deal of exertion to save the boat, it was cut loose and abandoned.  It occurred to me that two men, rapidly bailing, would be able to throw out a larger quantity of water than flowed through the seams.  Willing to make myself useful, I told my friend Brigham that I thought we could save the boat, if he would join in the attempt.  My theory proved correct.  We succeeded, by a relief of hands, in the effort, and saved the whole machinery unwetted.  This little affair proved gratifying to me from the share I had in it.  Mr. Thomas was so pleased that he ordered a sumptuous breakfast at a neighboring house for all.  We had an abundance of hot coffee, chickens, and toast, which to voyagers in an ark was quite a treat; but it was still less gratifying than the opportunity we had felt of doing a good act.  This little incident had a pleasing effect on the rest of the voyage, and made Thomas my friend.

But the voyage itself was now drawing to a close.  When we reached Cincinnati, the flotilla broke up.  We were now five hundred miles below Pittsburgh, and the Valley of the Ohio was, if possible, every day becoming an object of more striking physical interest.  By the advice of Dr. Sellman, who invited me to dine with a large company of gentlemen, I got a good boarding-house, and I spent several weeks very pleasantly in this city and its immediate environs.  Among the boarders were Dr. Moorhead (Dr. S.’s partner), and John C.S.  Harrison (the eldest son of Gen. Harrison), with several other young gentlemen, whose names are pleasingly associated in my memory.  It was customary, after dinner, to sit on a wooden settle, or long bench, in front of the house, facing the open esplanade on the high banks of the river, at the foot of which boats and arks were momentarily arriving.  One afternoon, while engaged in earnest conversation with Harrison, I observed a tall, gawky youth, with white hair, and a few stray patches just appearing on his chin, as precursors of a beard, approach furtively, and assume a listening attitude.  He had evidently just landed, and had put on his best clothes, to go up and see the town.  The moment he stopped to listen, I assumed a tone of earnest badinage.  Harrison, instantly seeing our intrusive and raw guest, and humoring the joke, responded in a like style.  In effect we had a high controversy, which could only be settled by a duel, in which our raw friend must act as second.  He was strongly appealed to, and told that his position as a gentleman required it.  So far all was well.  We adjourned to an upper room; the pistols were charged with powder, and shots