276 WILD SPORTS IN THE FAR WEST. 



I could not sleep, but lay close to the fire, which I 

 kept stiri'ing with a stick, making it crackle, and raising 

 showers of sparks, which were carried by the wind far 

 away into the dark forest, while I gave audience to my 

 various thoughts. At length some pattering drops 

 w^arned me that it was time to seek shelter in the w^arm 

 shed. 



The rising sun found us again on the march, and 

 nothing remarkable occurred till evening, when we 

 passed an old plum orchard of the Cherokees. It was 

 an unenclosed space, several miles in circumference, 

 thickly covered with bushes from two to six feet high, 

 bearing small, round, very sweet plums, which ripen in 

 August. Similar plum orchards are found in many 

 places near the Arkansas and Mississippi. 



We struck the Arkansas before dark, opposite the 

 little town of Pittsburg, and crossed over. As our 

 purses were in a weak condition, we did not enter the 

 town, but lighted a fire on the river's bank, made a 

 shed of some planks which had been driven on shore, 

 probably from a sunken boat, and were soon well 

 housed. As we had marched quick, and kept in our 

 dogs for fear of losing them, we had seen no game ; our 

 provisions were rather low, and henceforth the horse 

 had no further weight to carry than the well-packed, 

 goodly person of my companion, who now and then got 

 off to give me a lift. We husbanded our stores so well, 

 that we had something for supper and breakfast, and to 

 feed the dogs, and laid ourselves comfortably down in 

 our blankets. 



Next day we passed along a part of the route by 

 which some years ago a numerous body of eastern 



