SOLON ROBINSON, 1841 195 



if it had not been for the information given by that In- 

 dian. Her first thought was to make him some ample 

 reward. Little did she think how soon she would add 

 more joy to his mind than wealth could give him. The 

 first care of those in whose hands the wanderers found 

 themselves, was to furnish them such refreshments as 

 their humble abode afforded; after partaking of which 

 the natural enquiries were made of them as a matter of 

 course, considering the inquirers were from the land of 

 universal inquisitiveness ; as to where they were from, 

 where they were going, and why they were here in this 

 unfrequented place, unless they were "land hunting," 

 which from their appearance being so different from the 

 usual appearance of that class, was hardly probable. 



"Not so improbable," replied the old man, "as you 

 might suppose. For months past we have been 'land 

 hunting.' We have searched the north part of Indiana 

 with the most untiring perseverance, we have endured 

 cold, hunger, and fatigue; we have slept in wigwams, 

 woods, (and casting his eyes around to scan the cheap 

 comforts of his present resting place,) and in some white 

 men's houses not as comfortable as yours is this night, 

 and never until this night, has my heart failed me." 

 "But, father, do not let it fail yet. Surely we have 

 had another evidence this night that we may yet perse- 

 vere a little longer." "But, my dear girl, we are now 

 nearly at the extremety of hope; we have sought and 

 searched almost every lake and every pond of Indiana, 

 and every reservation that we could hear of, and as yet, 

 no tidings, no hopes of finding what we seek. Often have 

 we been sent after an ignis fatuus, which, ever recedes 

 as we approach, as yet, and where shall we inquire again? 

 we have not been able to find an individual who knew an 

 Indian of that name, nor one who in any respect answered 

 his description, who had a reservation of land, of any 

 other name; we have not even found a lake with rocky 

 shores, nor among all the wild and uncouth Indian names, 

 we've heard not one that sounded like the name of that 



