346 Expedition to the 



of rattle snake, which had, no doubt, but lately left their 

 winter dwelling. The creek, as observed this afternoon, 

 although still about thirty feet wide is, in some places, not 

 more than six inches deep, whilst in other parts it is two or 

 three feet. As we went forward, the timber gradually de- 

 creased in quantity, until finally it was interrupted into re- 

 mote small assemblages of trees, under one of which we 

 spread our blankets, after a sultry day's march, over a to- 

 lerably fertile country. Numbers of ant hills are dispersed 

 over the soil, and in many places are abundant ; we could not 

 choose but admire the assiduous industry of the little in- 

 habitants, who were now engaged in repairing the structures 

 for the approaching season of activity. The autumnal con- 

 flagration, which had comprehended within its destructive 

 range almost the whole surface of the country, had consumed 

 a large portion of the fragments of wood, which, intermixed 

 with earth, forms the exterior wall of their mounds ; these 

 the emmets were now unremittingly employed in replacing, 

 with half burned sticks, which were sought for in every di- 

 rection. Verdure was appearing in favourable situations, 

 and the ash was in full bloom, which tree, associated with 

 the elm and willow, comprehends the chief portion of the 

 few trees that were here seen. In the night we were awak- 

 ened by a heavy fall of rain, and our attention was directed 

 to personal safety by tremendous thunder and lightning, di- 

 rectly in the zenith, and we abandoned our guns and blan- 

 kets to take refuge in the open prairie. This situation was 

 peculiarly uncomfortable ; we had been languid and oppress- 

 ed by the heat of the sun during the afternoon's walk, and 

 we were now shivering under the effects of cold and mois- 

 ture. In the intervals we rekindled our fire, and became 

 alternately, partially dry, and wet, as the fall of rain inter- 

 mitted and recurred. 



At the dawn of day we retraced our path, and found the 

 tent pleasantly situate in an embowered spot, where three 



