24 



THE AUDUBON BULLETIN 



bluff to bluff and yet the boys did not talk loud for the spirit of the 

 place was over us. We camped out that night in Dark Bend, put up an 

 army tent, popped corn around the camp-fire, discussed robbers, listened to 

 the kingfishers in the bluff across from us, and then reluctantly went to 

 bed. That night Martin tried to climb out of the top of the tent, but 

 I got hold of his foot just in time to keep him from bringing the tent 

 down upon our heads. 



"Sunday morning we stopped at the little village of Lafetown for 

 water, made the curve in Richland County, shot our second dam, saw 

 many campers along the way, passed the beautiful Tithian Club-House, 

 and ate dinner among the sawmills. 



"That afternoon we heard a chugging noise which meant we were near 

 the oil-fields. Soon we came to the Ohio Oil Company's wells, and stopped 

 to visit them. One boy had visited the wells near Casey so told us all about 

 the machinery. 



"That night we climbed a big bluff, found to our great joy a big 

 barn up there, and soon with the farmer's consent were preparing supper 

 and making ready to sleep there for that night. I shall never forgot how 

 that night the sound of the church bells came across the river to us — it 

 was one of the heavenly things on earth. The farmer did not stop his 

 kindness to us with letting us sleep in his barn, but told the boys to go 

 into his garden for June berries and mulberries for breakfast. We bought 

 home-made bread here, which was a great treat to the boys. 



"At nine that morning we reached the little village of Westport after 

 passing several ferries and some big cliffs. Here the boys visited an old 

 woman's shop, bought me a kettle in which to cook, and tried to get 

 bread, but none was to be had in the village. 



"We ate at noon near the dredge-ditch leading to Lawrenceville, then 

 went swimming at a big sand-bar over five acres in extent. So much fun 



