TRAVELS IN 
156 
drove away the clouds of mufquitoes into the thick- 
ets. I now* with difficulty and induftry, colle&ed 
a fufficiency of dry wood to keep up a light during 
the night, and to roaft fome trout which I had caught 
when defcending the river : their heads I ftewed in 
the juice of Oranges, which, with boiled rice, af- 
forded me a wholeforne and delicious fupper : I hung 
the remainder of my broiled fifh on the fnags of 
fome fhrubs over my h ad. I at laft, after recon- 
noitring my habitation, returned, fpread abroad 
my fkins and blanket upon the clean fands by my 
fire fide, and betook myfelf to repofe. 
How glorious the powerful fun, minifter of the 
Moft High in the rule and government of this earth, 
leaves our hemifphere, retiring from our fight 
beyond the weflern forefls ! I behold with gra- 
titude his departing fmiles, tinging the fleecy rofe- 
ate clouds, now riding far away on the eaftern ho- 
rizon ; behold they vanifh from fight in the azure 
fkies ! 
All now filent and peaceable, I fuddenly fell 
afieep. At midnight I awake ; when, raifing my 
head ere 61 , I find myfelf alone in the wildernefs of 
Florida, on the fhores of Lake George. Alone in- 
deed, but under the care of the Almighty, and pro- 
tedled by the inviflble hand of my guardian angel. 
When quite awake, I ftarted at the heavy tread 
of fome animal; the dry limbs of trees upon the 
ground crack under his feet; the clofe fhrubby thick- 
ets part and bend under him as he rufhes off. 
I rekindle my fieepy fire ; lay in contadt the 
exfoliated fmoking brands damp with the dew of 
heaven. 
The 
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