JOHN LEDTARD. 287 



pardons were much more fatigued than we were, 

 though they had nothing to carry, and, what dis- 

 pleased us very much, would not carry any thing. 

 Our botanical researches delayed us somewhat. The 

 sun had not set when we halted ; yet, meeting with 

 a situation that pleased us, and not being limited as 

 to time, we spent the remaining part of the day as 

 humor dictated, some in botanizing, and those who 

 had fowling-pieces with them, in shooting. For my 

 part, I could not but think the present appearance 

 of our encampment claimed a part of our attention, 

 and therefore set about some alterations and amend- 

 ments. It was the trunk of a tree, that had fallen 

 by the side of the path, and lay with one end trans- 

 versely over another tree, that had fallen before in 

 an opposite direction; and as it measured twenty- 

 two feet in circumference, and lay four feet from the 

 ground, it afforded a very good shelter except at 

 the sides, which defect I supplied by large pieces of 

 bark and a good quantity of boughs, which rendered 

 it very commodious. We slept through the night 

 under it much better than we had done the pre- 

 ceding, notwithstanding there was a heavy dew and 

 the air cold. 



"The next morning we set out in good spirits, 

 hoping that day to reach the snowy peak ; but we 

 had not gone a mile before the path that had hitherto 



