There was a lock just below, but I seldom went to it because all the drivers were egged on to fight each other during the delay at the locks, and the canallers would have been sure to set them on me for the fun of seeing a fight.
On the most eventful evening of my life, perhaps.

I sat on this stump, watching a boat which, after passing me, was slowing down and stopping.
I heard the captain swearing at some one, and saw him come ashore and start back along the tow-path toward me as if looking for something.

He was a tall man whom I had seen pass at other times, and I was wondering whether he would speak to me or not, when I felt somebody's hand snatch at my collar, and a whip came down over my thin shirt with a cut which as I write I seem to feel yet.

It was John Rucker, coming home when we were not expecting him, and mad at finding me out of the factory.
"I'll learn yeh to steal my time!" he was saying.

"I'll learn your mother to lie to me about your workin'.