132 "WILD SPORTS IX THE FAR "WEST. 



meiiting demons cannot bear. Thus we were left in 

 tolerable repose. 



Ulil and I did not disgrace our German lineage in 

 regard to the provisions, and after the greater part of 

 them had disappeared, we set off again on our journey, 

 taking a cordial farewell of our hospitable friends ; and 

 footmarks, of from eighteen inches to two feet deep 

 impressed in the soft mud, and rapidly filling with 

 water, soon showed that two pair of German boots had 

 passed that way. At length, when the sun had de- 

 scended below the tops of the trees, and was glowing 

 like a fiery red ball above the horizon, after the 

 greatest exertions, we approached the termination of 

 our amphibious walk. The forest opened a little, and 

 we caught sight of a block-house standing on dry 

 ground. T\"e decided on making a short stay here at 

 all events, to recover from our fatigue, and to clean 

 and wash our clothes. 



On the next morning I awoke with an excessive 

 itching in my face and right shoulder, and found, to my 

 no slight astonishment, that both parts were much 

 swelled, and covered with small blisters. An Ameri- 

 can, who dwelt a few hundred paces from the house, 

 and who probably came to see us and pick up any news, 

 soon cleared up the mystery. A great many of the 

 creepers and shrubs in the swamps have a milk-white 

 sap, which is poisonous, and it is likely that I may 

 have broken some of them, and my face and shoulder 

 may have been smeared wdth this sap. Wet and cold 

 applications are considered the best cure. I accord- 

 ingly surrendered myself to such treatment, first rub- 

 bing my face well w ith pork fat, as an antidote to the 



