CHAPTER VIII. 



FARMING AT FOURCHE LE FAVE A BACKWOODS 



"frolic" RESIDENCE AT KELFER's FARM 



SCHOOLS HUNTING EXCURSION. 



The Ohio — Partnership in farming — Fourche Le Fave — Mr. Kelfer 



— Congress land — My cooking operations — Pig-killing — Decoys 

 used in shooting turkeys — Shooting by night — Salt licks — Mos- 

 quitoes and ticks — Dissensions on our farm — A grand " frolic " 



— Canoe voyage through the Avoods — Sickness — Kelfer and his 

 family — Sessions at Fourche le Fave — Shooting expedition with 

 Slowtrap — Reserve of the Americans — Adventures of the early 

 settlers with Indians — Raccoon shooting — Bee-hunting with 

 bait — Tempest — Panther-hunting. 



Having received a letter from Riitkin, in Louisiana, 

 with whom I had passed some pleasant days, inviting 

 me to visit him, and intending to return to Arkansas 

 to shoot (but to the hills in the west, instead of the 

 swamps), and having nothing to detain me, I accepted 

 the invitation, and taking a hearty leave of all friends, 

 I was soon once more on my way to the south. 



The steamer "Artisan," with cattle, poultry, flour, 

 whiskey, and passengers, carried me down the beautiful 

 Ohio. It was very cold ; and as we lay at Louisville, 

 taking in more cargo, it began to snow hard. By the 

 time we had reached the mouth of the Ohio, the snow 

 was eight inches deep, and continued so as far as 



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