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VI.

PULLING UP STAKES.

RRANGEMENTS were completed for moving. The flat-boat was finished, the whiskey was received, a settlement made with Mr. Colby, and the numerous little things that remain to be done before "pulling up stakes," as Mr. Lincoln called it, were attended to.

Parson Elkins had been round since the place was sold, and they had heard him preach once more; nor could they help thinking that it might be for the last time. Very serious thoughts possessed their minds as they sat willing listeners to him. They had enjoyed but few advantages in Kentucky, and they were going where they would have fewer still, at least for a time. They well understood this. They were about to become pioneers in a more important sense, and it was no trifling business to grapple with the difficulties before them. True, they were not going a great way, only about one hundred miles. But this would take them into the wilderness, where neither schools, churches, nor many people could be found.

It was a change for them, a great change,

and,

as the time of their departure drew near, they realized it more and more.

"Some work to pull up stakes for good," said Mr. Lincoln to Colby; "more than I thought for."

"I know that by experience," answered Colby. "Well, this is my first experience, and I don't know but I shall repent of my course."

"I hope not," said Colby. "I trust that both of us will be benefited by the move."

They were now standing upon the bank of the Rolling Fork River, and Mr. Lincoln was ready to embark.

It had been arranged, finally, that Mr. Lincoln should take all their heavy wares, like his carpenters' tools, pots, kettles, furniture, whiskey, &c., &c., and proceed to Indiana, select a place to settle, and then return for his family.

"Jump ashore, Abe," said his father; "you are spry as a cat; and I must be off." The boy was amusing himself on the boat.

"Where's my axe?" asked Abraham.

"It's all safe on board." His father had purchased him an axe with which he was going to set him to work in Indiana, as soon as they reached their destination. The axe is the symbol of pioneer work, so that he must have one to be a pioneer boy. To Abraham it was a great prize, and it was

not strange that he thought of his axe first and last.

"Perhaps you won't think so much of it after you have been obliged to swing it awhile in the woods," continued his father. "There's some work in it, you'll find."

66

"Be careful, Abe, how you step," said his mother, or you will be into the water before you get ashore."

"I'll look out for that," replied the boy, as he jumped to the bank.

"How long will you be gone?" asked Colby. "Ten or twelve days if I have good luck," replied Lincoln.

66 If you upset in the river, we shall have to wait a little longer for you," added Colby, dryly.

"Yes; but I don't expect that. I've fixed my cargo so that I expect to keep right side up, and sail along smoothly."

"I hope you will," added Mrs. Lincoln.

Having thus arranged everything, Mr. Lincoln pushed off the craft into deeper water, and was soon on his way down the river. The weather was fine, and the boat floated along pleasantly, much to the satisfaction of the adventurer.

We cannot stop to detail much that occurred on the voyage. One incident, however, deserves attention.

He had sailed down the Rolling Fork into the

Ohio River, and proceeded quite a distance on his voyage, experiencing no perils of wind or storm; and he was congratulating himself upon his success, when he met with an accident. By some mishap, the boat tilted, and the whiskey rolled from its position to the side, causing him to upset. He sprung forward to the other side in order to save his boat, but it was too late. The whiskey was heavy, and, once started from its position, there was no saving it or the boat. In a moment he was tipped into the water, with all his cargo. It was a good place for the whiskey, but not so pleasant for him. However, he clung to the boat, and made the best of it.

"Hold on there!" shouted a man who was at work with three others on the bank of the river. "Hold on, and we 'll come to your help." He was not more than three rods from the bank.

"Quick as you can," replied Mr. Lincoln.

“We'll be there in a jiffy," bawled one of them, and all ran for a boat that was tied about twenty rods below.

One of the number leaped into it, and plying the oar with all his might, he soon reached the craft that was upset, and took Mr. Lincoln on board.

"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 right side up. They proceeded also to save so much of his cargo as they could. They called other men in the neighborhood, and with such apparatus as the vicinity afforded, they raked the river, and recovered a part of his carpenters' tools, axes, a spider, and some other articles. By much perseverance and hard labor 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