DIAMONDS. 47 
The freshet had obliterated all marks of the road; but judg- 
ing, I suppose, my instinets by his own, he pointed to a gap in 
the thicket, under a huge cottonwood, and grunting out, “ You 
not miss -him,” left me to the tender mercies of gnats, mos-. 
quitoes, snakes, “et genus omne,” which are only to be found 
in such a delectable place as Boggy Bottom. 
I floundered on, every moment expecting to reach the wel- 
- come haven, but every step made it worse, until just as I was 
about to give up in despair, I heard the roar of a mill-dam, 
and hurrying on, found that I had boxed. the compass and 
come round to the place I started from. I was glad to re-— 
cross the stream and take up my quarters with the miller, 
where I found a blanket and a soft pee to solace me after 
my unromantic ramble. 
My host was quite wild upon the subject of a diamond mine 
he had found upon his premises; so after supper he produced 
his specimens, consisting of small quartz erystals imbedded in 
the harder reck, one of which he had extracted and fitted to 
_ a stick, to show how well it would cut glass; useless to him 
even for this, as glass for windows is unknown in this country. 
He looked blank when I told him the value of his prize, but 
to console him, I told him I would take some of the best 
specimens and have them well tested, giving him all the 
advantage that might result therefrom. I left him to his dia- 
mond dreams, and if there is ene 1 have 
no doubt this man cusnghs anioys it, 
