UP THE HILL. 181 



most frasfile vessels mortal ever embarked in. Tlie 

 leakage went on rapidly, and the water crept up 

 outside until it really appeared to overhang the 

 brim. It was already nearly dark, and the prospect 

 of immersion appeared so imminent that the passen- 

 ger became seriously uncomfortable. The bank was 

 reached only just in time, for the water was already 

 beo:innin2r to trickle over the side. 



Milton Was next brought over, and the rest 

 remained behind to superintend the passage of 

 the horses and carts in the morning. The latter 

 were brought over in a very easy and simple 

 manner. Each cart was attached by a rope from 

 one of the shafts to the tail of a horse, the ani- 

 mals driven into the water, and the carts pushed 

 after them. Being built entirely of wood, these 

 floated in their proper position, and the horses 

 swam across with them without difficulty. 



When the carts were again loaded, we found 

 the bank so steep that the horses were unable to 

 drag them up the ascent. We possessed no extra 

 harness by which to attach another horse, but made 

 shift after the fashion of the country, by a rope 

 from the shaft to a horse's tail. It was necessary 

 to start gently, in order not to dislocate the caudal 

 vertebrae, but with Milton and the boy as postillions 

 on the leaders, and the rest of the party pushing 

 behind, we went bravely up the hill. 



When we gained the level plain above, dense 

 clouds of smoke on every hand told that the prairie 

 was on fire, and we soon reached the blackened 



