ADVENTURES IN THE BACKWOODS. 293 



had passed the scene of carnage of the preceding day, 

 and was about to enter the dark and almost trackless 

 woods, daylight had totally disappeared, and nothing 

 remained for me but to pursue my way, and make the 

 best of it. 



I had not proceeded far, ere I came to a steep descent, 

 where the water, from an adjoining spring, had over- 

 flowed the snow, which was consequently formed into a 

 continued sheet of ice, all the way down the declivity. 

 My horse being smooth-shod, I deemed it safer to walk ; 

 therefore, dismounting and taking the bridle in my hand, 

 I endeavored to lead the way down the slippery path. 

 Before, however, I had got half way to the bottom, away 

 slid both my feet, and down I came. My horse was so 

 started at the suddenness of my fall, that he made a 

 spring to one side of the track, lost his footing, and came 

 down close beside me. But in the spring he made when 

 I fell, from my hand being fast in the bridle, I was 

 jerked back some distance up the hill with such force, 

 that, when I recovered a little from the shock, I felt fully 

 persuaded that my shoulder was dislocated. We both, 

 however, gathered ourselves up as well as we were able ; 

 and there we stood, in no condition to protect ourselves 

 from the wolves, should they see fit to attack us ; for 

 from the way in which my horse stood, I was afraid that 

 he had suffered still more damage than myself. When 

 the pain of my shoulder had somewhat subsided, I 

 examined it more minutely, and convinced myself that it 

 was not dislocated; but the severe wrench had injured 

 it so much, that I had no hope of making use of that arm 

 during the remainder of my ride. And as regarded my 



