DIOEPTIOlf 
prevent this ; but often in vain were my at- 
tempts. 4 
If persuasion, or the promise to pull the 
harder to make up the loss of time, or some 
other plea, would not induce me to let them, 
stop, before I got to the next town the fire 
would be out, or the spile out of the water- 
cask, or something else would oecur that 
made it absolutely necessary to land. Never 
shall I forget the fattening laugh which my 
men took over my defeat 3 as they pulled up 
the canoe to a certain town to get water. 
Only two hours before we had at least ten gal- 
lons, but in the nick of time all was gone. 
Let those who deny them a rational soul, 
and go so far as to call them brainless resem- 
blances of the human species, tell us why 
other animals do not exhibit such skill and 
forethought in carrying out their purposes. 
They exercise so much ingenuity, calcula- 
tion, and reason, in all they undertake 
(mainly for wicked ends I admit), that no 
unprejudiced and sincere mind can doubt 
their rationality. 
They have the elements in their nature to 
make them an inventfepe, enterprizing and 
