XIII. 



A RIDE THROUGH THE FOREST A LEAN DINNER CHE- 



NEy's cousin SWIMMING A LAKE WITH HORSES. 



Backwoods, August. 

 DearH : 



I AM off again for the woods — ^resolved to penetrate 

 to the heart of this wild country, whose scenery can- 

 not be matched this side of the Alps. For fifty miles, 

 we can with care go on horseback, and then we must 

 be our own beasts of burden. 



Our company consists of five — a young clergyman, 

 whom I persuaded to try bivouacking in the forest, in- 

 stead of lounging at Saratoga Springs for his health, 

 R — ffe, formerly a merchant in Maiden Lane, but now 

 a thorough backwoodsman, cutting down forests and 

 putting up mills, &c., and Doctor T — 11, and young 

 P . 



It was a bright morning, as, mounted on fresh 



