t to carry off our cattle during the night: when
crossing rivers floods might come down and overwhelm us; or packs of
fierce wolves might seize any of our oxen straying from the
neighbourhood of the camp; but the fear of such contingencies did not
deter my father and uncle, who had made up their minds to move on until
they could find a region suited to their taste. Many had done the same
and failed, others had succeeded, and they hoped to be ranked among the
latter.

Our mode of camping at night, having reached a spot near water, was, to
form a square with our waggons, leaving an opening through which the
cattle might be driven in case of an attack; if close to a broad and
deep stream, the water served for one side and the camp could thus be
made of larger size. The fires were lighted in the centre, and two or
more men were always posted outside to give due notice of the approach
of a foe. We had brought a tent for my mother and Kathleen, which was
of course pitched inside the square, that they might enjoy more room
than their waggon afforded, although that was made as comfortable as
circumstances would permit for sitting in during the day-time. In case
of being attacked by Indians, the goods in the waggons would serve, we
hoped, as protection against their arrows or even the bullets of those
possessed of fire-arms.

We always did our best to reach a spot of this description before
sunset. Our first duty was to water the horses and cattle, then to
hobble the former. This was done by fastening the fore and hind-legs on
one side with an iron chain, a leathern strap passing round the fetlock.
They were then turned loose to graze, their instinct inducing them,
provided there was plenty of grass, to remain close to the camp. We
then set to work to get wood for our fires, after filling the kettles
with water; the salt meat was then put on to boil, or when we had game,
that was spitted and placed on forked sticks to roast. We each of us
had our various duties to attend to, some made up the beds with blankets
and buffalo robes; one man roasted the coffee berries in a frying-pan
and prepared them for boiling in a primitive fashion by wrapping them in
a piece of buffalo or deer-skin and pounding them with the back of a
hatchet.

As soon as the coffee was boiled and the meat cooked we all turned to
with good appetites, our mother, Kathleen, Biddy, and Rose, seating
themselves on some of the lighter packages, which were