JONES OX THE BACKWOODS. 59 



and leave them covered up with brauches, so that if we got out all 

 safe we might send in for them afterwards, there being but little 

 fear of robbery in such a situation. We therefore took with 

 us only a blanket and our guns, and being thus lightly burdened 

 we made good way. But after a long and tedious march until 

 mid-day we could strike no blaze, (^. e., the marks placed upon 

 trees by surveyors in the Ixick settlements,) and we sat down to 

 rest and devour our last scrap of biscuit and a small tin of 

 chocolate among six, with anxious thoughts as to what would 

 constitute the next meal — off again, we traversed through thick 

 woods, descending all the time, and in a valley first discovered 

 an old blaze, which gave us fresh courage, and we contrived to 

 follow it for some distance, until to our horror we arrived on the 

 shore of a large lake, about midway from its extremities, so 

 there was nothing for it but to trudge, wearied as we were, all 

 round its lower end, which having been accomplished, we struck 

 out through the forest again by compass, no blaze being seen. 

 It was getting dark, and we had given up all hope of getting 

 out that night, when Peter Paul, who was some distance ahead, 

 called out, *' road, road!" and on arriving at the spot, sure 

 enough there lay an old track, which following to the southward 

 till dark we came to an open spot surrounded by woods, in 

 which was a field of turnips and potatoes. We may be excused 

 when Ave say that we dispensed at this time with the ordinary 

 eo'artesies of society and allowed every one to help himself, and 

 a ludicrous sight it was to see six hungry individuals sitting in 

 the midst of a turnip patch refreshing themselves on the vege- 

 table esculents. An old shed, with large holes in the roof, stood 

 in one corner, and we adjourned to this, and making a fire, 

 roasted potatoes and made ourselves as comfortable as we could, 

 but the rain began to pour in torrents, and drenched and light- 

 less we passed a weary night. The morning, however, no 

 sooner dawned than we trudged down the road, and hearing the 

 sound of an axe we directed our course that way, and soon found 

 ourselves in the presence of a worthy settler, whose snug farm 

 house lay close by on the banks of the Sissiboo river, Digby 

 Co. A forlorn looking group indeed we must have appeared, 

 all tattered and torn as we were, after our hard travel over 



