64 AVILD SPORTS IN THE FAR WEST. 



Other roads might also lead to the forest; so I made 

 my way through the shrubs and bushes, which could 

 not make me more wet than I was already. I sank 

 down from fatigue at times, but, after a few moments' 

 rest, roused myself to fresh efforts. At length, like a 

 port to a ship in a storm, I saw a light through the 

 branches. I hastened, as fast as my tired legs would 

 carry me, in that direction, and soon came to a fence, 

 and shortly afterwards to a farm-house. The farmer 

 looked at first rather shyly at the dripping wet traveller, 

 who requested entrance so late in the night; but the 

 customary hospitality did not let him hesitate long, 

 and a warm fire, with a quickly prepared supper, con- 

 siderably refreshed my stiff and Aveary limbs. 



I arrived at Cincinnati, the largest town in Oliio, 

 on the river of that name, on the 26th of November, 

 without further adventures, and found my friend the 

 apothecary quite well ; the hearty pleasure he expressed 

 on seeing me was ample reward for the trouble I had 

 taken to find him, and I passed some happy days in 

 his society. I was much pleased with the fine town of 

 Cincinnati, the " Queen of the "West," as the Americans 

 call it. It is the centre of commerce of the West, and 

 owes its rapid rise and prosperity to its connection by 

 steamers and railroads with the seaports on the east 

 coast, by canal with Lake Erie and the St. LaAvrence, 

 and by the Ohio and Mississippi with New Orleans. 

 From Cincinnati I made short shooting excursions into 

 Kentucky, though with little success, obtaining at most 

 a few hares, and some of the small American partridges, 

 with now and then a wild duck. 



On the Gth of December I bid adieu to the agreeable 



