SOURCE or ST. Peter's river. 269 



the stream, where at least they would be relieved from 

 the torment of the mosquitoes. The breeze, which was fa- 

 vourable, allowed the barge to proceed with considerable 

 rapidity for three hours, when the wind increased into a gale, 

 which rendered the navigation dangerous. After having at- 

 tempted, for a time, to continue, in despite of the violence of 

 the storm, they were obliged to draw near the shore. A very 

 heavy rain fell for several hours, to which they remained 

 exposed in the boat, having no protection but that afforded 

 them by their blankets. Notwithstanding the comfortless 

 situation in which they found themselves, there was an 

 irresistible interest in the scene. A storm is at all times 

 one of the most splendid phenomena in nature ; but when 

 experienced in the gloomy forests of the Mississippi, in 

 the midst of a solitude, with no companions but a few fel- 

 low sufferers, standing in a shivering attitude in a small 

 boat, it receives an additional interest; every flash of 

 lightning displays a scene which the painter would wish 

 to fix upon the canvass. The loud peals of thunder resound 

 more forcibly when reverberated by the rocky bluffs, 

 which border upon the river, and they contrast sublimely 

 with the low but uninterrupted muttering of the rolling 

 waters. About sunrise the storm ceased, the weather clear- 

 ed up, the party resumed their journey, and continued it 

 until breakfast time, when they were gratified to stop and 

 make a fire to dry their clothes and repair the damage oc- 

 casioned by the storm. While at their encampment of the 

 preceding evening, the attention of the party was sud- 

 denly roused by the faint and indistinct sounds of a human 

 voice, singing at a distance. It was soon evident that the 

 words were English, and the air a familiar one to all the 

 party ; after a while the noise of a paddle was distinctly 

 heard, and by hailing they brought to the shore a canoe 



