S96 NATURAL AND CIVIL 



b:;ring wood, which I perceived at some dis- 

 tance. I was still encouraged to hope by the 

 ahnost miraculous preservation I had alread}' 

 experienced. Nor were my hopes in vain, or 

 •the eiToits I made ineffectual. Suffice it to 

 Sov, that I reached the v/cod ; but by the time 

 I Ivdd penetrated a little way into it, my breath 

 W-: 3 SI) exhausted that I threw myself into a 

 br<-kc, and lay for some minotes apparently at 

 the last gasp. At length I recovered the pow- 

 er of respiration ; but my apprehensions re- 

 tufiied with all their former force, when I saw 

 sc'." :ral saviiges pass by, probably in pursuit 

 of tiie, at no very great distance. In this sit- 

 ualinn I knev/ not whether it was better to 

 proceed, or endeavor to conceal myself where 

 I l?^\ till night came on ; fearing, howevCFj 

 that they would return the same way, I thought 

 it most prudent to get further from the dread- 

 ful Lxcne of my distresses. Accordingly, 

 stri!:ing into another part of the wood, I has- 

 ten; a on as fast as the briars and the loss of 

 one of my shoes would permit me ; and after 

 a slow pi-ogress of some hours, gained a hill 

 that overlooked the plain which I had just left, 

 from whence I could discern that the bloodv 

 storm still raged with unabated fury. 

 ' Birr not to tire my readers. I shall only 

 add, that after passing three days without sub- 

 sistence, and enduring the severity of the cold 

 devis lor three nights, I at length reached fort 

 Edward ; where with proper care my body 

 socr recovered its wonted strength, and my 

 mind, as far as the recollection of the late mel- 



* ancholy events would permit, its usual com- 



* posurc. 



