THUNDERSTORMS IN ARKANSAS. 273 



one of the flashes Curly distinguished the roof of his 

 abode ; we hastened to it as fast as our legs would carry 

 us, dashed in, and fastened the door, just as the hail 

 came down as if it was trying to split every plank on 

 the roof. As we looked at each other we broke into 

 such an immoderate fit of laughter, that we could 

 scarcely recover ourselves. The noise of our arrival, 

 the thunder, hail, and our loud laugh awoke all the 

 inmates. Martin's handkerchief, which he wore at 

 night to cover his pate, had slipped off, and his queer 

 appearance, as he looked at us with astonishment, set 

 us off laughing again. 



Meantime the hail gave place to heavy rain ; but 

 " savage tyrants reign not long," and presently the 

 beauteous stars looked down quite cheerily upon us. 



Storms are frequent in Arkansas, and occasionally 

 hurricanes, which will sweep a district of a mile in 

 width and several miles in length, levelling every thing 

 in their path. After a time blackberries, thorns, and 

 creepers, grow so luxuriantly over the heaps of fallen 

 trees, as to make the thickets quite impenetrable in 

 many places, offering a secure refuge, to bears, &c. 



On returning to Slowtrap's, we began in earnest to 

 make preparations for the long-expected, long-delayed 

 journey. In S.'s good steel mill we ground Hour 

 enough to last the family till his return, put our knives 

 and rifles in order, and finally started on the morning 

 of the 1'Jth of December. 



It was a bright cold winter's day, when, with our 

 three dogs bounding about us, we commenced our 

 march ; Slowtrap on his nag, which carried, besides, 

 a sack of provisions, our blankets, and my skins, while 



