48 WILD SPORTS IN THE FAR WEST. 



during his sleep it had given way under the weightiest 

 part of his form, which descended till it found support 

 on my chest. The tlirust of my breastpin had caused 

 him to make an effort to move, which gave me that 

 opportunity of making my escape I so gladly seized. As 

 he returned to his former position with greater force 

 and weight, from the exertions he had made, the support 

 being gone, the canvas split still wider, and, more than 

 half asleep, he was sitting on my bed, while his head 

 and feet remained in his own. He soon began to call 

 out, " Help ! " " Murder ! " Everybody started up to 

 see what was the matter, and to laugh heartily at the 

 extraordinary attitude of this stout gentleman. 



In the morning we arrived at Lockport, where the 

 canal has a fall of sixty feet, with two sets of locks, one 

 for boats ascending, and the other for those descending : 

 a noble work for so young a country. Here I left the 

 boat for the purpose of seeing the Falls of Niagara, to- 

 wards which I took the nearest road. It was about 

 two in the afternoon when I arrived at this most 

 colossal wonder of all the rivers of the earth. I abstain 

 from any attempt to represent it ; inadequate drawings, 

 and thousands of descriptions, are to be found in all 

 parts of the world ; I will not add to the number. It 

 was so surprisingly grand that I could only gaze in 

 admiration, and worship God. 



My heart still full of this glorious scene, I avoided 

 the little town of Manchester, lying close to the falls, 

 and followed the first path that led into the country, 

 partly for the sake of shooting, and partly to find a 

 house to sleep in. It became darker and darker, and 

 the mud seemed to be getting deeper and deeper, Avhen 



