140 BKODIE'S ADVENTURES. June 



coolly to consider his position, he would be enabled 

 to shape a course for the river by the sun, and 

 following its bank to return to the lake. And so 

 it eventually happened. When he discovered that 

 he was walking in a wrong direction, he began to 

 mend his pace and to run as is usual in such cases, 

 but took an inland course, and at length came to 

 the borders of the swamp above mentioned. Here 

 the woods being more open he obtained a distant 

 view of the " Hill at the Rapid," which he re- 

 cognised from having seen it on his former journey 

 to the cache, and as he knew that we must pass it 

 in descending the river, he resolved on walking 

 straight for it in the hope of arriving there before 

 us. After this he came to the Black River, and 

 being a fearless swimmer, swam across it, carrying 

 his clothes on his head. The stream, being very 

 tortuous, came again in his way, when he crossed 

 it a second and a third time in the same manner, 

 but on the last occasion, his bundle slipping off 

 floated away, and he regained the bank with diffi- 

 culty in a state of perfect nudity. After a mo- 

 ment's reflection, he came to the conclusion that 

 without clothes he must perish, and that he might 

 as well be drowned in trying to recover them as to 

 attempt proceeding naked. On which he plunged in 

 again, and fortunately landed this time safely with 

 his habiliments. He now refreshed himself with 



