138 WILD SPOUTS IN THE FAR WEST. 



dog it was slow work, and then the increasing darkness 

 convinced me of the impossibility of finding either the 

 deer or the way back to the house, being as yet too 

 unacquainted with the country to be able to lind my 

 way by the stars. 



I was soon comfortably stretched by a blazing fire, 

 and should have done very well, but for the stomach, 

 that constant tormentor, who kept reminding me that 

 he had had no work to do since the morning, except to 

 consume a few insignificant green sassafras leaves. The 

 night was beautiful, the stars shining brilliantly, and the 

 weather fortunately too cool for mosquitoes. I soon 

 slept quietly and comfortably till about midnight, when 

 I was awakened by the disagreeable howling of the 

 wolves; it seemed as if they had all assembled lo 

 give me a serenade; if so, the poor beasts had a Aery 

 ungrateful audience. During the interval, the sharp 

 roar of a panther was heard ratlu'i* too close to my lair. 

 Such a neighbor was by no means desirable or trust- 

 worthy; so I fired in the direction whence I heard 

 the sound, and he Hew back again to the jungle. 1 

 now made, up my lire afresh, and was soon a>lccp Ibr 

 the second time. 



AVhen I awoke the sun was peeping through the 

 branches. Shaking my limbs, which were still' with 

 cold, I commenced my journey homewards, endeavoring 

 to shorten the way by thoughts of a good warm 

 breakfast. 



S. had for some davs talked of cutting down a tree, 

 in which he had discovered a swarm of wild bers, but 

 .something had alwavs happened to hinder it ; however, 

 on the first of June we set oil' at daybreak on our long 



