FAMILIAR SCENES OX THE MlPSISSim. 1 '2 1 



Now, for the first time, could we learn our where- 

 ahouts. The broad bosom of the Mississippi stretched 

 far to the front of us, while at the stern of our boat was 

 one of those abrupt banks that denote a sudden bend in 

 the river. This had deceived the pilot. On our right, 

 within a few hundred yards, lay the shore, lined with 

 huge trees, tangled with gigantic vines, and waving with 

 festoons of moss, giving them a sombre appearance, that 

 was singular and repulsive. Wild ducks and geese 

 went screaming by, heron and crane innumerable would 

 come near us, but discovering the dark form of our boat, 

 % precipitately away. 



The water glistened in the sun, and there would rise 

 from its quiet surface little columns of mist, that would 

 ascend high in the air, or sail along on the surface of 

 the water, until striking the distant shore, they rolled 

 over the landscape, enveloping parts in momentary ob- 

 scurity, — and it was not until near noon that the fog 

 entirely disappeared. Then the sun, as if incensed with 

 the veil that had for a time kept it from its scorchintr 

 work, poured down its heat with more intensity, leaving 

 a foggy day, hotter before its close, than if the sun had 

 been unobscured in its appearance in the morn. 



"While sitting in the cabin, congratulating ourselves 



on the prospect of getting oflf the sand-bar, on which we 



had so long been detained, the report of a rifle was heard, 



fired from the deck, accompanied by a yell. 



Another rifle was discharged, and a loud Indian 

 G 



