I'm a Baptist, but I don't believe in immersion onless the convert has bin prepared for it, & is willin, which neither this man wuz. I stepped forward 2 make Abe let him down, but before T could do anything Abe had got 2 the edge of the wharfboat & let go, & plunk went the man into about 10 foot ov water. Abe, scared now nearly 2 death, stood there with his ize biggern sassers & whitern goose-eggs. In a minnit the man cum up, sputterin & hollerin. A big Sergeant, with his left arm in a sling, reached over & ketchod him by the collar & held his head above water. "If I pull you out will you promis 2 go out ov the niggor-kotchin bizniss forever?" axed the Sergeant. "Pull me out & then I'll talk 2 you," says the man grabbin for the slippery sides ov the wharfboat.{91} "No, I won't," said the Sergeant, sousin him under water agin. "Yes, yes, I'll promise," says the man, when he come up agin. "Will you swear it?" axed the Sergeant. "Yes, I'll swear it before a Justice ov the Peace." "Will you swear 2 support the Constitution ov the United States agin all enemies & opposers whatsumever, & vote for Abraham Lincoln every time?" axed the Sergeant. "I'll take the oath ov allegiance," says the man, sputterin the water out ov his mouth, "but I'll never vote for that Abolition ape as long as I live." "Then down you go," says the Sergeant, sousin him again. "Yes, yes, I'll vote for Abe Lincoln, & anybody else, if you'll only pull me out," said the man, in a tired tone of voice, when he cum up agin. I begin 2 see that immersion had a great deal ov good in it, even if a man isn't prepared & willin. "Will you swear 2 always love a nigger as a man & a brother, until death do you part, & aid & comfort all them who are tryin 2 git away from slavery?" axed the Sergeant. "Damned if I will," says the man. "No nigger kin ever be a brother 2 me. I'll die first." "Then you'll die right now," says the Sergeant, sendin him down as far as his long arm would reach & holding him there until I wuz scared for fear he wuz really goin 2 drown the man. When he brung him up the man whimpered: "Yes, only pull me out--save my life--& I'll do anything you want."{92} By this time the ferryboat had cum up. We got aboard & crost over to Injianny, & I felt so glad at bein on my nativ soil wuns more that I took Abe up 2 the eatin stand, & blowed in a dollar filin up the vacant plasis in his hide.