EPISODES 



275 



entered the burnt forest, in which we met with so many 

 logs and briers that we judged it better to make for the 

 river, the course of which we followed over a bed of peb- 

 bles, my son sometimes ahead, and again falling back, 

 until we reached America, a village having a fine situation, 

 but with a shallow approach to the shore. Here we halted 

 at the best house, as every traveller ought to do, whether 

 pedestrian or equestrian, for he is there sure of being well 

 treated, and will not have to pay more than in an inferior 

 place. Now we constituted Mr. Rose purser. We had 

 walked twelve miles over rugged paths and pebbly shores, 

 and soon proceeded along the edge of the river. Seven 

 tough miles ended, we found a house near the bank, and 

 in it we determined to pass the night. The first person we 

 met with was a woman picking cotton in a small field. On 

 asking her if we might stay in her ;abin for the night, she 

 answered we might, and hoped we could make shift with 

 the fare on which she and her husband lived. While 

 she went to the house to prepare supper, I took my son 

 and Mr. Rose to the water, knowing how much we should 

 be refreshed by a bath. Our fellow-traveller refused, and 

 stretched himself on a bench by the door. The sun was 

 setting ; thousands of Robins were flying southward in the 

 calm and clear air ; the Ohio was spread before us smooth 

 as a mirror, and into its waters we leaped with pleasure. 

 In a short time the good man of the hut called us to sup- 

 per, and in a trice we were at his heels. He was a tall, 

 raw-boned fellow, with an honest, bronzed face. After our 

 frugal meal we all four lay down on a large bed, spread 

 on the floor, while the good people went up to a loft. 



The woodsman, having, agreeably to our instructions, 

 roused us at daybreak, told us that about seven miles 

 farther v\' ' should meet with a breakfast much better than 

 the last supper we had. He refused any pecuniary com- 

 pensation, but accepted from me a knife. So we again 

 started. My dear boy appeared very weak at first, but 



