118 Expedition to the 



soon exchange our desolate and scorching sands for a more 

 hospitable and more favoured region. As this little grove 

 of trees, appearing to us iHce the commencement of an im- 

 mense forest, gave reason to expect we should soon find 

 some small game, Mr. Peale, with one man, went forward 

 to hunt. Soon after arriving at the wood, they discovered 

 a flock of turkies, and the rifleman, dismounting to shoot, 

 left his mule for a moment at liberty. The animal taking a 

 sudden advantage of the opportunity, turned about and 

 made the best of his way out of the wood, pursued by 

 Mr. Peale. This chase continued about five miles, and 

 ended in putting the mule on the recent trace of the party, 

 which there v/as no reason to fear he could be induced 

 to leave until he had rejoined his companions. Mr. Peale 

 who was exhausted with the pursuit, followed slowly, 

 and neglecting to pursue carefully the path of the party, 

 passed us, after we had turned aside to encamp, still travel- 

 ling on in the direction of our course. At dark, believing 

 we were still before him, and knowing we must encamp near 

 the river, he betook himself to the sandbars, which were now 

 naked, occupying the greater part of what was sometimes 

 the bed of the stream. Along these he travelled, occasional- 

 ly discharging a pistol, and looking about, in constant ex- 

 pectation of seeing the blaze of our evening fire, until the 

 moon began to sink behind the hills, when finding the light 

 insufficient to enable him to continue his search, he tied his 

 horse to a tree and laid down to wait the return of daylight. 

 At camp guns were discharged, as large a fire kindled as 

 we could find the means of making, and other measures taken 

 to give him notice of our position, and late in the evening, 

 the man, whose mule had been the occasion of the accident, 

 joined us, but was unable to give any account of Mr. Peale, 

 or the mule, which had, however, arrived before him. At 

 seven o'clock, on the morning following, Mr. Peale returned 

 to us, having convinced himself, by a careful examination of 



