156 WILD SPORTS IX THE FAR WEST. 



the wind blowing so soft and warm through the green 

 branches, that we could not sleep, but went on talking. 

 Both my companions were Americans, one of them a 

 strict Methodist, and there was nothing more natural 

 than that we should talk of the stars, then of heaven, 

 then of religion ; and as we entertained very different 

 views, our conversation degenerated into a hot dispute, 

 which was put an end to about midnight by a heavy 

 shower of rain, that forced us to seek shelter for our- 

 selves and our sacks. 



Next day we began to grind, and slow work it was, 

 for we had to turn the mill with our own oxen, who 

 had no idea of inconveniencing themselves ; however, 

 we managed to reach home the same night. The 

 season was now far enough advanced for the leaves of 

 Indian corn to be stripped and laid up as fodder for 

 the winter. This plant, in the southern States, w^ill 

 grow to a height of eleven or twelve feet, and often 

 bears three cobs : the white sort is the best for bread, 

 the yellow, containing more sugar, is best for fodder 

 and for whiskey. 



On the loth of August I received a letter from Uhl, 

 telling me that he was with my old acquaintance, the 

 Rhenish-Bavarian, at Little Red river, and that he was 

 going to join TuroAVski in farming. I had too lively a 

 remembrance of the kindness of old Hilger not to take 

 a walk to visit him ; therefore, as soon as our fodder 

 was all in, I prepared for my journey, and early on the 

 20th of August I shouldered my rifle, and, with one of 

 S.'s dogs by my side, set off in the hottest season of the 

 year through the dried swamp. The atmosphere was 

 sultry in the extreme, but by evening I had reached 



