nd.

The country through which we passed was in those days almost in a state
of nature, with the exception of the high road traversing the State from
one end to the other. The first part lay across the "Barrens," a wild
region, where the soil being inferior in fertility to that of the
uplands, it was destitute of inhabitants. To the south extended a level
prairie covered with long grass, with here and there groves of oak,
chestnut, and elm. To the north the country appeared more undulating,
clothed with a far greater variety of trees; hickory, black walnut,
cherry, as well as magnificent oak and elm.

"I hope we shall not have another river to cross like that," observed my
mother, after keeping silence for some time, while she was endeavouring
to recover from her alarm.

"Not so broad a one, Kate," answered my father, "but there are several
streams which we must manage to get over either by fords or ferry-boats,
for I doubt whether we shall find any bridges as yet put up to drive
over, though they will come in good time, I have no doubt. We run no
danger just now, and I don't suppose that we shall have the least
difficulty in crossing any stream in our way."

As we drove along we occasionally started a herd of deer feeding on the
rich grass in the forest-glades. Hares in abundance crossed our path,
and a fox slunk by, casting a suspicious glance at us, as he ran out of
sight into a bush. Towards evening, as we were hoping soon to reach a
log hut in which we could pass the night, our ears were assailed by a
long, low howl.

"Where can that come from?" exclaimed my mother.

"Possibly from a wolf; but I'll give a good account of the brute if he
makes his appearance," answered my father; "hand me out my rifle."

My mother gave him the weapon, and he placed it by his side ready for
use. He had also a brace of pistols stuck in his belt, so that he was
prepared for an encounter either with wolves, bears, or any hostile
Indians who might have ventured thus far eastward.

At last we found ourselves rumbling over a corduroy road, a sign that we
were approaching human habitations. It was composed of the trunks of
large trees, placed close together across the path, over a swampy place
into which the wheels of carriages would otherwise have been imbedded.
The interstices had originally been filled in with earth, clay, or chips
of wood, but in many parts the small stuff had sunk through, so that the
waggon moved on o