ay before. We thought it
best not to inquire too minutely who our good hosts were, though we had
little doubt that they were, as we at first supposed, runaway slaves.
The first question we put was whether they had seen anything of our
friends; to which they replied in the negative, and told us that we were
still nearly a day's journey from the river. One of them undertook to
guide us to a part where he thought we might possibly find a canoe. If
not, he advised that we should descend the stream on a raft, until we
reached some settlers' huts, which he told us we should come to in a few
hours. He begged us, however, not to mention, on any account, having
met with him and his companions. This we willingly promised. The
blacks, unfortunately, could not supply us with powder and shot, the
small quantity they possessed being barely sufficient for their own
wants; but they offered to give us enough of food to last us for a
couple of days.

As we found ourselves utterly unable to travel, we were thankful to
accept of their invitation to remain with them until we had recovered
our strength.

CHAPTER TEN.

WE SET OFF FOR THE RIVER--APPEARANCE OF THE COUNTRY--ARRIVAL AT THE BANK
OF THE SAINT JOHN--A CANOE DISCOVERED--STOPPING LEAKS--A SUGGESTION--
DISTURBED NIGHT--OUR VOYAGE COMMENCED--RIVER SCENERY--PROVISIONS FALLING
SHORT--FISHING--JOURNEY CONTINUED--DOUBTFUL EGGS--RUINED HOMESTEAD--WE
SECURE SOME FRUIT--A SUPPLY OF POULTRY--DESERTED SETTLEMENT--SAD EFFECTS
OF INDIAN WARFARE--A DISMAL SWAMP--THE INDIAN SCOUT--A PROOF OF
HOSTILITY--LONG REST--OUR EVENING MEAL--PADDLING ON.

I had fortunately a few dollars, with which I was able to recompense our
negro hosts, who seemed, however, to expect no reward. With the one who
had undertaken to be our guide we set off at daybreak, in the hope of
reaching the River Saint John before dark. Though we were both, as Tim
said, "as thin as whipping-posts," we felt sufficiently strong to
undertake the journey, and the fatigues we were likely to encounter,
until we could fall in with some craft to convey us down the river to
Castle Kearney.

The forest through which we passed consisted chiefly of cabbage-palms
and pines on the higher ground; but we saw marshes extending on either
side, which our guide told us reached to the river. Had we possessed
ammunition, we could have shot deer, for numerous herds crossed our
path. We saw also a few wild-fowl. Our guide said that in the winter