Brandy was John's favorite beverage in Philadelphia, as it was in Boston. He frequently borrowed money of Benjamin; the latter not having the heart to deny him, with which he continued to gratify his appetite. Benjamin often remonstrated with him, and threatened to complain of him; but the old friendship of former days always came in to favor John. Frequently they had serious difficulties, for John was very irritable, and daily grew more so. Yet, Benjamin continued to pay his board, and loan him a little money from time to time, though Collins continued unsuccessful in his search for a position. Several young men were enjoying a pastime on the Delaware one day, boating, among them Benjamin and John. The latter was under the influence of drink sufficiently to be very irritable; and he refused to take his turn rowing. "I will be rowed home," he said in anger. "No, you won't, unless you do your part," replied Benjamin, who thought it was quite time to teach the boozy fellow a lesson. "Then we will stay here all night on the water," snapped out John. "Just as you please; I can stay as long as you can," said Benjamin, who had endured about as much of John's impudence as he could. "Come, Ben, let us row him; he don't know what he is about," said one of the other boys; "what signifies it?" "Not one stroke," replied Benjamin emphatically; "it is his turn to row, and he _shall_ row, if he is full of brandy." "I'll make you row, you insulting dog," exclaimed John, as he rose and made for Benjamin. "I'll throw you overboard if you don't row." Approaching Benjamin with the vehemence of a mad bull, determined to throw him into the river, Benjamin clapped his head under his thighs, when he came up and struck at him, and, rising, pitched him head foremost into the river. "He'll drown," shouted one. "No, he won't," answered Benjamin, "he is a good swimmer, and he is not too drunk to swim." "Will you row, John?" shouted another. "No, you ----," he shouted back, with an oath. "We'll take you in when you will promise to row," said Benjamin. "I shall not promise to row; I'll drown first." He turned about to reach the boat, but just as he was ready to grasp it with his hand, the rowers pushed it forward out of his reach. "Will you row now?" shouted Benjamin. "No; but I will give you a thrashing when I can get at you." And he continued to swim after the boat, the rowers pushing it forward out of his reach, whenever he got near enough to seize it. Then Benjamin would cry out: "Will you row now, John?" and back the defiant answer would come: "Never; but I'll throw you into the river if I can get at you." Then forward the rowers would push the boat beyond his reach. For twenty minutes this game was played with the miserable fellow in the water, when one of the number said: "He is giving out, we must take him in, or he'll drown."