He might not be fit for a sailor yet, but he could prepare himself.
He bethought himself of a cousin of his, by name Amos Letcher, who had not indeed arrived at the exalted position of captain of a schooner, but was content with the humbler position of captain of a canal-boat on the Ohio and Pennsylvania Canal.
This seemed to James a lucky thought.
"I will go to Amos Letcher," he said to himself.

"Perhaps he can find me a situation on a canal-boat, and that will be the next thing to being on board a ship." This thought put fresh courage into the boy, and he straightway inquired for the _Evening Star_, which was the name of the boat commanded by his cousin..