126 WILD SPORTS IX THE FAR WEST. 



whom I saluted as an old, long lost, and long wished- 

 for friend ; a change in the color shows where the 

 Ohio joins the " Father of Waters," for the first is clear 

 and bright, wdiile the latter is dull and muddy. They 

 run together for some distance, quite distinct, the 

 Mississippi becoming more and more intrusive, the 

 other shyly withdraAving, as if vexed that its clear 

 waves should be contaminated by all the dirt which its 

 companion derives from the Missouri. 



On the 18th, at five in the afternoon, the " Com^ 

 merce " stopped at Memphis, in Tennessee. We imme- 

 diately crossed to the opposite side, and sprang joyfully 

 ashore in the long-desired Arkansas. We greatly 

 enjoyed the mild balsamic air that blew towards us 

 from the green forest, after our four days' voyage, and 

 we should have enjoyed it still more but for the load 

 Ave had to carry. Besides my game-bag, Avhich was 

 filled with all possible sorts of things, I had a large 

 buffalo skin, and Uhl a heavy blanket, with our store of 

 powder and ball. But we were fresh and in good con- 

 dition, and resolved, although it was already dusk, to 

 commence our march the same evening, taking advan- 

 tage of the cool night air, the mid-day sun of Arkansas 

 being rather too kindly disposed. We walked on for 

 about five miles in the brightest moonlight, and then 

 lay down to repose, but were obliged to get up again 

 and make a fire, on account of the mosquitoes, which 

 were very troublesome. 



The next morning found us cheerful and refreshed, 

 and, as hungry as lions, we started off, in the hope of 

 making a prize of a deer ; but a farmer told us that this 

 was not the right season for them, and we were glad to 



