JOURNEY TO THE OHIO. 48 
.to the exuberance of the land to supply his wants, 
a man sets forth with his family. Guided only by 
the sun through dark and tangled forests, they 
pushed on, till compelled by weariness, they 
sought repose on the bare earth at night. Num: 
berless streams were crossed on rafts, women and 
children imitating the courage of the adven- 
turers. Luggage and possessions were landed 
with greater difficulty, for the cattle, tempted by 
the rich pasturage, roved away, causing a de- 
lay of days. Meanwhile the wanderers were 
tortured with dread of the prowling ruthless In- 
dians harassing their march or menacing their 
slumbers. Some, travelling under pleasanter 
auspices were attended by wagons and negroes. 
An advance guard cut a way for them through 
the woods, and when overtaken by night, the 
bold hunter attachés of the party, loaded with 
the dainties of the forest, hastened to their place 
of encampment. 
Then it was that the sounds of merriment told 
all was well. Soon the flesh of buffaloes or 
deer was laid in deliciously-cooked slices before 
the embers, while cakes, flavoured by the rich 
viands, were quickly baked. Wagon-loads of 
comfortable bedding were unloaded, and horses 
too had their pleasant recreation midst the lux- 
uriant undergrowth of the woods, caparisoned 
only with a light bell to guide their owners in 
