f the woods, preferring to repose thus until the
following morning than to venture into the frail ferry-boat while the
waves yet ran so high.

There was no habitation in the immediate vicinity, save a rude hovel
occupied by Jasper Roughgrove and his ferrymen, which was on the
opposite shore in a narrow valley that cleft asunder the otherwise
uniform cliff of rocks.

The creaking of the wheels, when the vehicle approached within a few
hundred paces of the encampment, attracted the watch-dogs, and their
fierce and continued barking drew the attention of the emigrants in
the direction indicated. Several men with guns in their hands came out
to meet the young travellers.

"We are white men, friends, strangers, lost, benighted, and hungry!"
exclaimed Joe, stopping the horses, and addressing the men before he
was accosted.

"Come on, then, and eat and rest with us," said they, amused at Joe's
exclamations, and leading the way to the encampment.

When they arrived at the edge of the camp, Glenn dismounted from the
wagon, and directing Joe to follow when he had taken care of the
horses, drew near the huge log fire in company with those who had gone
out to meet him. Several tall and spreading elms towered in majesty
above, and their clustering leaves, yet partially green,
notwithstanding the autumn was midway advanced, were beautifully
tinged by the bright light thrown upward from the glaring flames. The
view on one side was lost in the dark labyrinth of the moss-grown
trunks of the forest. On the other swept the turbid river, bearing
downward in its rapid current severed branches, and even whole trees,
that had been swept away by the continual falling in of the river
bank, for the sandy soil was always subject to the undermining of tho
impetuous stream. A circle of tents was formed round the fire,
constructed of thin poles bent in the shape of an arch, and the ends
planted firmly in the earth. These were covered with buffalo skins,
which would effectually shield the inmates from the rain; and
quantities of leaves, after being carefully dried before the fire,
were placed on the ground within, over which were spread buffalo robes
with the hair uppermost, and thus in a brief space was completed
temporary but not uncomfortable places of repose. The ends of the
tents nearest to the fire were open, to admit the heat and a portion
of light, that those who desired it might retire during their repast,
or engage in pious meditatio