It was about the close of navigation an' the' was a scum of ice.
I scrambled out somehow, but he wouldn't 'a' cared if I'd ben drownded.
He was an exception, though.

The canalers was a rough set in gen'ral, but they averaged fer disposition 'bout like the ord'nary run o' folks; the' was mean ones an' clever ones; them that would put upon ye, an' them that would treat ye decent.

The work was hard an' the grub wasn't alwus much better 'n what you--he, he, he!--what you ben gettin' at the Eagle" (John was now by the way of rather relishing jokes on that subject); "but I hadn't ben raised in the lap o' luxury--not to any consid'able extent--not enough to stick my nose up much.

The men I worked fer was rough, an' I got my share of cusses an' cuffs, an' once in a while a kick to keep up my spirit of perseverance; but, on the hull, I think I got more kindness 'n I did at home (leavin' Polly out), an' as fer gen'ral treatment, none on 'em c'd come up to my father, an' wuss yet, my oldest brother 'Lish.

The cap'n that throwed me overboard was the wust, but alongside o' 'Lish he was a forty hosspower angil with a hull music store o' harps; an' even my father c'd 'a' given him cards an' spades; an' as fer the victuals" (here David dropped his cigar end and pulled from his pocket the silver tobacco box)--"as fer the victuals," he repeated, "they mostly averaged up putty high after what I'd ben used to.