THE FALLING TREE. 105 



swamp ; but once there, I had hopes of being able to 

 walk on firm ground, instead of floundering through 

 water and mud. 



After some hours' agreeable repose, both of us having 

 risen to make up the fire afresh, and just laid down 

 again, we were suddenly alarmed by a most tre- 

 mendous crash, which made us start up. The tree 

 which we had been hacking at, and then thought no 

 more about, was overthrown by the rismg wind ; but 

 this wind saved us, for as it blew in the opposite direc- 

 tion to our fire, the tree fell from us — otherw^ise we 

 might have paid dearly for our carelessness. As it 

 liappened to fall across the river, it made a very good 

 bridge for me on the following morning. The dogs 

 had dropped their tails, and started off at the very first 

 crack. 



We were up with the day. P. packed his bear on 

 the horse, and made me promise to come and see him 

 when the swamps should be dry, to join in a buffalo 

 hunt. Taking a hearty leave of him I set off to the 

 north-east. After three hours' marching up to the 

 knees, and sometimes to the waist, in water, I came on 

 the broad road leading to Memphis, and turned to the 

 eastward. In the afternoon I arrived at S.'s old farm, 

 and walked half a mile further, to sleep at McO.'s, 

 dwelling with pleasure all the while on the hopes of a 

 warm bed, a sound roof, and the society of fellow- 

 creatures. 



McO. gave me a warm reception, doing every thing 

 to make me comfortable : his wife came in later, having 

 taken a ride to pay a visit to a couple of widows. It 

 is a remarkable fact that such a number of widows are 



