OUT IN THE WOODS. 65 



town of Cincinnati, and on the same evening arrived at 

 the border of the State, formed by the little river 

 Miami : I slept there, and crossed over into Indiana on 

 the following morning. Two miles further I reached 

 the little town of Lawrencebourg, on the Ohio, and 

 inquired the nearest way to St. Louis ; a question 

 which no one could answer, as they said they never 

 knew of any one travelling hundreds of miles on foot, 

 when they could go so easily by the steamers. At 

 last, with much trouble, I learnt something of the 

 direction, and set off on the journey. I got a good 

 dinner at a farmer's in return for a hare I had shot, 

 and passed the night in a solitary house with some very 

 worthy people. 



The 8th of December was a fine day for a walk, and 

 the evening was mild and agreeable. I was walking 

 on at a good pace, when a farmer told me as I passed 

 his house that I should find a mill about six or seven 

 miles further on, where I could pass the night; the 

 sun was already low in the heavens. I was in the 

 midst of a thick wood when it became dark, and no 

 mill to be seen ; after some time it was somewhat 

 lighter, and I had no fear of losing my way ; moreover, 

 the temperature was very agreeable, and in case of 

 necessity, I should not have minded camping out, or 

 sleeping in the forest. At length I saw a light at 

 some distance through the trees, and the hopes of a 

 warm bed and cup of hot coffee produced a good 

 effect upon my European system, as yet unweaned 

 from these luxuries. As I advanced, the lights Jin-came 

 brighter and more numerous, and .1 did not know what 

 to think. AVas it a town, or an Indian camp belbre 



