
          1044.

anxiety.  Just as we crossed the bridge we met a man coming from the
direction of O. G., he told us the road was impassable and verified
the statement of the watchman that the bridge <s>of</s> at O. G. had been carried away.  It
was now nearly noon, so we thought we would find a spot to
camp.  At the dam of the Catonsville Water works, the rushing
and raging of the water was something awe inspiring.  The earth trembled.
The <s>large bank in</s> soil under the road is being washed away and as it
washed away the road-way above caves in, fortunately most of it is
solid rock.  Beyond the dam, one could see the ice.  As we wished
to go to the Persimmon Place, we thought it might be well to go
up the road leading to H's, and this we did.  Mr. W. first filling his
kettle with water.  The road-way was quite slippery intensified by the water on the ice and we found walking
up the hillside quite fatiguing, skipping about, as we did. <s>on the ice</s>
The firm prominently raised foot-prints of some former pedestrian were observed
all the way up.  When once in H's place we left the road & turned to the right
keeping along the hill-top until we came to the Persimmon Place.
Here we camped.  We had just collected our wood and we were ready to
start the fire, when we heard the barking of hounds.  Soon they came into
sight and with them a hunter on horseback.  When he saw us, he got
off his horse and came toward us, leading the horse by the bridle.
        