42 WILD SPORTS IN THE FAR WEST. 



that this was not exactly the object for which I had 

 left all that was dear in my native land, and often 

 while brooding over my late step, it seemed a wild, op- 

 pressive dream. It seemed as if I could not be in the 

 long desired land of freedom, so many thousands of 

 miles from my loved country, and that I might awake 

 at any moment and thank God that it was only a 

 frightful delusion. It was however a reality, and I 

 decided on breaking my fetters. I soon arranged with 

 my partner ; with the exception of a small sum down 

 for travelling expenses, he was to keep the rest in the 

 business till the end of March, and then repay the bare 

 sum I had at first invested. 



I left my two chests containing clothes and books in 

 the care of H., and taking some clean linen and a double- 

 barrelled gun, I started for the wide world, according 

 to my heart's desire. Whither, I neither knew nor 

 cared, except that I wished in the first place to see the 

 Falls of Niagara, and then to follow wherever fate might 

 send me. I was free, once more free, and felt my heart 

 swell with the feeling of independence. I no longer 

 envied the. birds of passage, whose flight towards the 

 south my eyes had lately so mournfully followed. I 

 was as free as they were, and no less mclined to use my 

 unbound pinions. 



At five in the evening of the 24th Oct., the new 

 steamer " Diamond " left New York for Albany. I 

 stood on her deck inhaling with delight the pure bal- 

 samic air, viewing with enchanted eyes the glorious 

 scenery. 



My costume seemed probably rather eccentric to 

 some of the stiff Americans, who kept staring with 



