JOURNEY TO THE OHIO. 43 



to the exuberance of the land to supply his wants, 

 a man sets forth with his family. Guided only by 

 the sun through dark and tangled forests, they 

 pushed on, till compelled by weariness, they 

 sought repose on the bare earth at night. Num- 

 berless streams were crossed on rafts, women and 

 children imitating the courage of the adven- 

 turers. Luggage and possessions were landed 

 with greater difficulty, for the cattle, tempted by 

 the rich pasturage, roved away, causing a de- 

 lay of days. Meanwhile the wanderers were 

 tortured with dread of the prowling ruthless In- 

 dians harassing their march or menacing their 

 slumbers. Some, travelling under pleasanter 

 auspices were attended by wagons and negroes. 

 An advance guard cut a way for them through 

 the woods, and when overtaken by night, the 

 bold hunter attaches of the party, loaded with 

 the dainties of the forest, hastened to their place 

 of encampment. 



Then it was that the sounds of merriment told 

 all was well. Soon the flesh of buffaloes or 

 deer was laid in deliciously-cooked slices before 

 the embers, while cakes, flavoured by the rich 

 viands, were quickly baked. Wagon-loads of 

 comfortable bedding were unloaded, and horses 

 too had their pleasant recreation midst the lux- 

 uriant undergrowth of the woods, caparisoned 

 only with a light bell to guide their owners in 



