CHAPTER VI. 



A fakmer's life in the woods. 



(continued.) 



My comrade attacked by ague — Removal to a new locality — Snakes 

 in the woods — Grinding corn — " Lying " Bahrens — Repeated 

 attacks of ague — Sassafras tree — " An epileptic breakfast " — 

 Night in the forest — The panther — Visit to Hilger — Shooting 

 by torchlight — A distillery — A backwoods politician — Clear- 

 ings — Xew farm — Illness, and want of medical aid — Negro 

 children — Two American speculators — Bad characters in Ar- 

 kansas — Removal to a new form at Oiltrove bottom — "White 

 river — A gallant buffalo hunter — Home-sickness — Unhealthy 

 swamps — Bear-hunting in companies. 



On the 8tli of July, I had killed a fown. The flesh 

 "was veiy delicate, and we had made a hearty feast on 

 it, when Uhl complained of headache and sickness, 

 and though he had frequently boasted of his sound 

 constitution, and maintained that he should never be 

 ill, he began to feel some doubts on the subject. Next 

 day he was very ill, and on the third, about noon, his 

 sickness declared itself as a regular attack of ague. I 

 did all I could to relieve him, but in our loneliness we 

 had little to comfort an invalid. Towards evening he 

 got better, and longed for some blackberries. I took 

 a tin dish, and Avent to a place about eighty paces 

 from our house, where they grew in quantities ; there 

 had formerly been a field here, and the thorns gre^Y 

 thick about the overthrown trees. I was plucking 

 (150) 



