site side hauled it under the ragged hole. As the canvas covered it,
the inflow of water was instantly checked. With a loud cheer, the crew
sprang to the pumps. When the water got low enough, the carpenters
nailed planks over the hole. The barge and the valuable cargo of coal
were saved. In less than three hours from the time the snag had
struck, the injured barge was again lashed to the fleet and on her way
down the Ohio. Paul was the hero of the hour. The Captain of the "Red
Lion" solemnly transferred him from his damp and grimy quarters on the
head to the comfortable cabin and pilot house. He confessed to the kind
Captain that he had run away from home and how anxious he was about his
mother. That day the Captain wrote a glowing letter to Mrs. Boyton and
posted it at Paducah, Kentucky. From that time, he took great pleasure
in teaching Paul how to steer, and many other arts in river craft.
Paul keenly enjoyed this first voyage down the Mississippi. The strange
scenes on the river were of deep interest; but he never tired of
watching the slaves, either at work in the fields, or at play on the
banks of an evening.

At last the "Red Lion" and her tow were safely moored at New Orleans.
The Captain found a letter waiting from Mrs. Boyton requesting that Paul
be sent back by the first mail packet. While waiting her departure, the
Captain took Paul out to see the great city. Among many places of
interest they visited that day, the slave mart at the foot of the fine
statue erected in honor of Henry Clay, lived long in Paul's memory.
Numbers of slaves were to be sold. The Captain and Paul pushed their way
well to the front, so that they stood near the auctioneer. With
feelings hard to describe, Paul saw slaves disposed of, singly and in
parties. Fathers, mothers, sons and daughters were bid for and sold,
and the critical purchasers examined them as if they were prize cattle.
While the sale proceeded, Paul spelled out the inscription on the
monument which said "that if he (Henry Clay,) could be instrumental in
eradicating this deepest stain, slavery, from our country, he would be
prouder than if he enjoyed the triumphs of a great conqueror." Even to
his childish mind this seemed sadly inconsistent with the
surroundings. The auction concluded with the sale of three boys, who
seemed to be brothers, or at least close friends for they wept bitterly
when parted. As they moved away, Paul's eyes