FORDING THE WABASH. 73 



suffered much, without gaining much experience, being 

 one of those good-natured souls, who are unwilHng to 

 take advantage of others, though often imposed upon 

 themselves. 



It rained in torrents during the night, but cleared 

 up towards morning, and began to freeze. On going 

 down to the river I met some horsemen, who had 

 returned from the other side, and declared that it was 

 not possible to proceed; for not only was the water 

 very deep, but the ice on the surface was so thick, that 

 it would have cut the horses in breaking through it. 

 For a moment I was undecided: I could not stay in 

 Vincennes, because my small supply of money would 

 not admit of great outlay, and I had yet a considerable 

 distance to travel. I. went down to the ferry, but the 

 ferrymen also strongly advised me to remain at Vin- 

 cennes, as the road was quite impassable : however I 

 was obstinate, and crossed the ferry. 



The ground was dry close to the river, but I was 

 stopped by the water further on. I persisted till noon, 

 trying to find a passage, and upon a tolerably empty 

 stomach, for I had eaten little more for the last twenty- 

 four hours than a bit of bread and cheese. Yet I 

 made no progi'ess, so I resolved to dash at it, and wade 

 through the water to some houses about two miles off, 

 where the ferrymen had told me I should find dry 

 ground. At first it was only up to my knees, and my 

 water-proof boots kept me dry ; but it soon became 

 deeper and deeper. I was obliged to fasten my game- 

 bag on my shoulder, and wade along, sometimes up to 

 the waist, and sometimes up to the chest in the cold 

 element, all the while having to break the ice in front 

 7 



