OCCURRENCES AT CHICAGO. 229 



however, to get on pretty well, having by this time learned to 

 serve myself in many things, carrying water for washing, dry 

 ing my shirt, wetted by the rain of the preceding evening, and 

 brushing my shoes. The table was amply stored with sub 

 stantial provisions, to which justice was done by the guests, 

 although indifferently cooked, and still more so served up. 



When bed-time arrived, the landlord showed me to an apart 

 ment about ten feet square, in which there were two small 

 beds already occupied, assigning me in a corner a dirty pallet, 

 which had evidently been recently used, and was lying in a 

 state of confusion. Undressing for the night had become a 

 simple proceeding, and consisted in throwing off shoes, neck 

 cloth, coat, and vest, the two latter being invariably used to 

 aid the pillow, and I had long dispensed with a nightcap. I 

 was awoke from a sound sleep towards morning, by an angry 

 voice uttering horrid imprecations, accompanied by a demand 

 for the bed I occupied. A lighted candle, which the indivi 

 dual held in his hand, showed him to be a French trader, ac 

 companied by a friend, and as I looked on them for some time 

 in silence, their audacity and brutality of speech increased. At 

 length I lifted my head from the pillow, leant on my elbow, 

 and with a steady gaze, and the calmest tone of voice, said, 

 &quot;Who are you that address me in such language?&quot; The 

 countenance of the angry individual fell, and he subduedly 

 asked to share my bed. Wishing to put him to a farther trial, 

 I again replied, &quot; If you will ask the favour in a proper man 

 ner, I shall give you an answer.&quot; He was now either asha 

 med of himself, or felt his pride hurt, and both left the room 

 without uttering a word. Next morning, the individuals who 

 slept in the apartment with me, discovered that the intruders 

 had acted most improperly towards them, and the most noisy 

 of the two entered familiarly into conversation with me during 

 breakfast, without alluding to the occurrence of the preceding 

 evening. 



On arriving at Chicago, I learned there was a mail-waggon 

 which passed down the Illinois river once a-week, and had set off 

 a few hours before, and was the only conveyance in that direc 

 tion. I could not think of remaining a week waiting for the 

 waggon, and not rinding a suitable horse to purchase, I deter- 



