In the spring of 1831 Lincoln set out to fulfil his engagement.

The floods had so swollen the streams that the Sangamon country was a vast sea before him.

His first entrance into that county was over these wide-spread waters in a canoe.

The time had come to join his employer on his journey to New Orleans, but the latter had been disappointed by another person on whom he relied to furnish him a boat on the Illinois river.

Accordingly all hands set to work, and themselves built a boat on that river, for their purposes.