112 WILD SPORTS IN THE FAR WEST. 



I bound together with creepers, and securing my gun, 

 game-bag, knife, tomahawk, and poAvder-horn on the 

 top of it, I pushed it before me to the opposite bank. 



On the 30th of January, as I arrived at the Great 

 Red river, I saw a farm-house, and the crow of a cock 

 broke on my ear as the music of the spheres. But the 

 house was on the other side of the broad and swollen 

 stream, which rolled along its dirty red waves at a fear- 

 ful rate. In vain I sliQutcd and roared myself hoarse ; 

 a shot had no better effect. I had made up my mind to 

 hide my gun and other things in the bush, and swim 

 over, Avhen a second shot roused the farmer's attention. 

 He came to the bank, and seeing some one calhng and 

 beckoning on the opposite side, he cast off his canoe, 

 and coming across, Avas not a little astonished at finding 

 me alone. 



I received a hearty welcome from liis family, who 

 were exceedingly amused at the appetite with Avhich I 

 made the bread disappear, and at my enjoyment of the 

 coffee. 



As I did not wish to remain here long, I soon came 

 to an agreement with the farmer about the sale of his 

 canoe ; he let me have it for four dollars, throwing a 

 smoked leg of A'enison, a roast turkey, and some loaves 

 of maize bread into the bargain. 



I was soon afloat in this hollowed trunk, drifting 

 rapidly down the stream, which carried gigantic trees 

 along with it. The light craft dashed forward like an 

 arrow under the strokes of my paddle, so that, accord- 

 ing to a reckoning made afterwards, I must have gone 

 about 400 miles in five days. It was not till late in 

 the night that I ran in among the reeds, and slept 

 quietly in my own })roperty. 



