36 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



three peaks have that form. They defcended, 

 then, the gloomy declivity of the Black River, to- 

 ward the north, and arrived, after an hour's walk- 

 ing, at the banks of a confiderable river, which 

 barred their progrefs. That large portion of the 

 illand, entirely covered with forefts, is fo little 

 known, even at this day, that many of it's rivers 

 and mountains are flill without a name. The ri» 

 ver, upon the banks of which they were, flows impe- 

 tuoufly over a bed of rocks. The noife of it's wa- 

 ters terrified Virginia ; (he durft not venture to put 

 her feet into it, for the purpofe of fording over. 

 Paul, upon this, took Virginia on his back ; and, 

 thus laden, paifed over the flippery rocks of the 

 river, in fpite of the tumult of the waves. *' Be 

 " not afraid," faid he to her, *' I feel my ftrength 

 *' renewed, having the charge of you. If the plan- 

 " ter of the Black River had refufed to your en- 

 " treaties the pardon of his Have, I Ihould have 

 " fought with him." *' How !" exclaimed Fir • 

 giniûy " with that man, fo large, and fo wicked ? 

 " To what have I expofed you ? My God ! how 



ifTue multitudes of brooks and rivers, which difFufe abundance 

 over the face of the Earth. They are the fources of the princi- 

 pal ftreams which water it, and furnifh them with a confiant 

 fupply, by continually attraéling the clouds around the peak of 

 the rock, which overtops them at the centre, like a nipple. We 

 have indicated thofe wonderful provifions of Nature, in the pre- 

 ceding Studies. 



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