ll around, and
waited patiently, four days, for the ice to run by.

In the middle of the Mississippi River, nearly opposite the mouth of
the Illinois, there were three small islands, covered with large trees
and a dense, tangled growth of brush and vines. The heads of these
islands were clogged, for a long distance up the river, with the
deformity of immense rafts of drift logs, stumps, and trees. They
presented an exceedingly dreary aspect, swept by the freezing winds,
with truly arctic masses of ice grinding by, and often ploughed up into
great hillocks upon the sand-bars.

At a short distance back from the river a range of hills or bluffs was
seen. Between the bluffs and the river the meadow or bottom lands were
often treeless, and evidently fertile in the highest degree. On the
morning of the 12th of March the Mississippi was sufficiently clear of
ice for these intrepid voyagers to venture to launch their canoe upon
its surface. Slowly and cautiously they paddled up the stream, keeping
near the shore and taking advantage of every eddy which could be found.
Through vistas opening between the hills and woods occasional glimpses
were caught of prairie regions beyond, whose solitude and silence were
only relieved by the spectacle of grazing herds, and thousands of birds
upon the wing. There were no signs of human life. Apparently eternal
silence reigned over those Eden-like solitudes, disturbed only by the
lowing of the herds and the varied notes of bird songs.

As they continued their voyage they came upon many islands, whose thick
growth of forest trees was so interlaced with vines and undergrowth as
to render them almost impenetrable. Vigorously they plied their
paddles, day after day, breasting the strong current of the river,
encountering no incident of importance. Every night they landed, drew
their canoe upon the grass, turned it over, so as to cover its contents
from the rain and the dew, built their frail shelter for the night,
kindled their camp fire, whose flame is ever as companionable as it is
cheerful, cooked their supper, which they ate with the appetite and
zest which labor gives, and then, having offered their vesper prayers
and chanted their evening hymn, enjoyed that sweet sleep which is one
of the greatest of all earthly blessings. At noon they always had a
short religious exercise in their canoe.

They often had mild and beautiful mornings, when the whole wide-spread
scene of crystal waters, for