68 WILD SPORTS IN THE FAR WEST. 



flesh and esteem it a delicacy. The miller made no 

 ceremony with his prisoner, and, after killing it, he cut 

 off its claws and tail, skinned it, washed it, and pre- 

 pared it for cooking, teUing me it would serve for a deli- 

 cate breakfast ; but I could not make up my mind to 

 eat an animal looking so much hke a rat. 



It rained hard all night, giving me a sorry prospect 

 for my next day's journey ; nevertheless, I rose early, 

 and took leave of the miller on purpose to escape his 

 " dehcate breakfast." 



The ground was soft and slippery, and it was not 

 without reason that I had feared the swelling of the 

 mountain streams ; yet, trusting in my fortune, I went 

 on in good spirits. About ten o'clock it began to rain 

 again pretty sharply, and about noon I came to a 

 rapid, roaring mountain stream, which rushed towards 

 the Ohio, carrying some large trees along with it. 

 Here it was necessary to reflect on what was best to 

 be done, for though I could have swum across, it would 

 have been extremely disagreeable, as I had no change 

 of clothing, and the water was considerably colder 

 than the air. After wandering for some miles up and 

 down the river in search of means to cross it, night 

 came on, and I was obhged to camp in the wood. 

 After kindUng a good flre, I went to sleep, lulled by 

 the sound of the water, but waking up now and then, 

 thinking I might receive a visit from some -w^ld 

 beast. 



On the following morning I was early on my legs, 

 and examined the river. Like all these mountain 

 streams, it had risen rapidly, and fallen as quickly, 

 having considerably abated in the course of the night. 



