A PETTY IX)0 ICING SET. 105 



miles above the Fort, and three men were busily engaged in putting all 

 things in readiness for the expected spring rise — an event which seldom 

 occurs before the 1 5th of May. 



The winter's trade having closed, an interval of nearly three months' 

 leisure followed, which resulted in a hunting expedition that included my- 

 self with six others. 



Anxious to explore the mountains, we set our faces westward ; but, owing 

 to the reported closeness of game en route, very little provisions were 

 taken with other necessaries. 



Keeping the river bottom by a rocky ridge for some ten miles, our course 

 led through several beautiful groves and broad stretches of rich alluvial 

 soil, that presented an encouraging prospect to agriculturists. After a 

 few hours' ride we came to a point at which the stream sweeps round the 

 ridge's base, causing a vertical wall of lias and sandstone nearly one hun- 

 dred and fifty feet high. 



Abandoning the river bottom at this place, we ascended to the high 

 prairie on the left, where an interesting plateau greeted us, extending far 

 away to the south and west, till it became lost in the neighboring moun- 

 tains. Continuing on a short distance, we again struck the river, at a 

 small opening between two hills, and made camp in a grove of willows. 



Opposite this place is a large heavily wooded island, of a blueish loam, 

 upon a subtratum of fossiliferous limestone. 



Above and below are lofty walls of limestone and ferruginous rock, that, 

 in many places, overhang the sweeping waters at their base, and form roof- 

 age beneath which swarms of prairie swallows are wont to raise their 

 annual broods. 



Consuming our scanty supply of provisions at a single meal, each soon 

 disposed of himself for the night. A mild atmosphere invited to repose ; 

 and, enwrapped in a single robe, my troubles were speedily forgotten in a 

 quiet slumber. 



But during the succeeding interval, a change came over the spirit of 

 my dream. I was suddenly aroused by the crash of a huge tree, that fell 

 across my bed, and only a providential curve arching upwards, had saved me 

 from instant death ! 



" Hurra, for me !" I exclaimed, as my startled campmates came cluster- 

 ing around, — " It's better to be born lucky than rich!" 



The wind was nov/ blowing a perfect hurricane, and the trees tottered 

 around us, threatening every moment to fall. In an hour or so, however, 

 the gale abating, we again addressed ourselves to sleep. 



Towards morning, feeling a disagreeable warmth and superincumbent 

 pressure, I was induced to uncover, and, looking out, the cause was ex- 

 plained by the presence of a dense snow that covered the ground to the 

 depth of several inches. The fallen snow was melting fast, and that yet 

 descending soon merged into rain. 



A pretty-looking set of felloMrs were we, in a comparatively short time ! 

 — blankets, robes, clothes, and every article about us were wet — soaking 

 wet — and covered with mud. It required an effort of several hours to 

 kindle a fire, so thoroughly saturated was everything with water ; — thi^ 

 done, we all gathered around it, and — such a group ! — Oh, the beauties 

 of mud and water ! A painter might describe it, — I cannot. 



