MR. DAVIS'S FARM. 281 



fresh courage, and we hastened down the hill towards 

 the sound. When the strange dogs left off barking, we 

 easily excited them again by imitating the howl of a 

 wolf. We gained at once the foot of the hill and a 

 mountain stream, and came to a small house, from 

 whence we had heard the bark of the dogs. We entered 

 and obtained shelter, but no hearty welcome. 



Next morning, as we were not very well pleased with 

 our host, who did not care about us, and fearing that 

 the rivers we had to cross might swell with rain — an 

 event which soon occurs in the mountains — we left at 

 daylight, and proceeded to a farmer's, named Davis, 

 about half a mile off on the other side of the river ; here 

 we were received kindly and hospitably. 



Mr. Davis would by no means allow us to proceed, 

 as it had poured with rain the whole night, and all the 

 brooks were rushing torrents ; so, taking charge of our 

 things, he made us sit by the fire, and seemed liighly 

 gratified at the pleasure its warmth afforded us. His 

 family were very agreeable, and I was quite sorry to 

 part with them so soon as the next morning ; but by 

 that time the waters fell, and Slowtrap was in a huny 

 to get on. However, it was hard work to get through 

 some of the rivers, especially as we had but one horse. 

 Luckily my companion knew the country too well to 

 expose us to the chance of sleeping again in the forest, 

 and this evening, wet, tired, and half frozen, we arrived 

 at the abode of an old squatter. 



This day we had crossed the main range of the 

 " Boston divide," which parts the waters of the Mul- 

 berry from the White river, and found ourselves on 

 the latter, which, here, we could leap across, though 

 24* 



