80 WILD SPORTS IN THE FAR WEST. 



ing which to take, when I heard a cock crow not very 

 far off. The sound was music to my ears at such a 

 moment. I took the path leading towards it, and soon 

 came to the fence of a little corn-field ; upon the fence 

 sat a curious figure, swinging himself to and fro, and 

 singing in a low melodious voice some song unknown 

 to me. As he heard my steps he sprang from the 

 fence, and a poor pale sickly hid stood before me. lie 

 offered me his right hand with a smile, and with hi* 

 left pushed away the long lank wet hair from his eyes ; 

 he led me quietly to the door and disappeared. His 

 father, an old farmer, told me that I should find 

 some German settlements about eight or nine miles 

 further on, and though it was still raining, I resolved 

 on continuing my journey, and reached the block-houses 

 of my countrymen before dark. 



The weather continuing bad, and I having but little 

 money, I resolved to accept work if I could find it. 

 Three brothers living here, who seemed good sort of 

 people, were ready to employ inc. We were to agree 

 about the wages after a week's trial. The next day 

 saw me sally forth early in the morning, armed with a. 

 heavy hoc, to the unaccustomed work of rooting up 

 bushes. It made the muscles and sinews of rny arms 

 ache and swell, so it happened very opportunely for 

 me that the following day was the festival of the Three 

 Kings, and as the honest Germans do no work on that 

 day, I was very much obliged to the Three Kings for 

 their appearance. But though they would not work 

 for themselves, we all went, according to the custom 

 here, to help build a house for a neighbor, who had 

 ^lately settled, and for which the logs were already cut 

 and collected. 



