184 WILD SPORTS IX THE TAR WEST. 



icans ; they will barter any thing — lands, houses, 

 horses, cattle, guns, clothes, even to the shirt and boots 

 they have on — or, if you prefer it, they are just as 

 willing to sell. Saint had a very good long rifle, and 

 we soon settled the matter, by my taking it, and a good 

 sum into the bargain. 



I soon found that I was no longer master of my 

 former powers, as when I knew the word " tired " only 

 by name. Frequent attacks of ague had robbed my 

 muscles of their elasticity: with all my exertions, I 

 could hardly accomplish more than twenty miles the 

 first day, and had enough to do to make thirteen the 

 next ; in the evening, tired to death, I arrived at Von 

 G.'s, on the Little Red river. Next day it came on to 

 rain heavily, and I considered myself fortunate in 

 having a good roof over my head. I remained with 

 Von G. till the 9tli, when I Avent to my old friend 

 Hilger. I passed a few very pleasant weeks with him, 

 helped the old fellow at his work now and then, but 

 generally went out turkey shooting. I was treated as 

 one of the family. But my restless spirit and desire 

 for change, which drove me away from every place 

 where I had made friends, would not allow me to 

 remain here ; I must away, for the peaceful life of the 

 happy family caused me mournful thoughts : to escape 

 them, I determined to return to the swamps, as in 

 winter the danger was less imminent. 



The Hilgers begged me to remain, but the spirit 

 which possessed me was too strong for them, and I 

 took a warm leave of them all ; the children, however, 

 would not hear of my departure, and the little three- 

 year-old girl was only to be pacified by a promise that 



