a suitable place to cross with their team,
the creek being somewhat swollen by rains on the head-waters of that
stream, they concluded to cut some grass on a small island and leave
their team on a little elevated spot near the river, with the elder Mrs.
Mayall and the children to sleep in the wagon and the rest would take
off their clothes and ford the stream, carrying with them some blankets.

The young bride, like the Naiad of the stream, stripped off her
beautiful robes, and advancing to a deep, still place, tied them up in a
handkerchief, fastened them on the top of her head, rushed into the
stream, swimming with her head out of the water to her breast, and was
soon on the opposite shore, and dressed before the rest were half ready
to cross. Whilst the rest were packing up their blankets and skins in a
suitable manner to cross over, the young nymph of the forest came
running back and called on the party to bring over their knives,
tomahawks and guns. She said that a company of bears lived in that
cottage, and had only gone out to hunt and would soon return; she
requested them to take her rifle, load it and leave it with her new
mother to defend herself, and bring over the remaining four guns. These
tidings put the camp in a fluster. Young Mayall proceeded to pattern
after his wife, stripped, and commenced carrying blankets, guns,
ammunition, tomahawks and knives. In a short time all that was needed
was over, each one armed, and proceeded to the cottage.

Wolf-hunter carefully examined the room and said there was one she-bear
of tremendous size and two large cubs that had taken up their quarters
in that cottage, and every one must examine his gun and see that it was
well primed and sure fire, for they were liable to be attacked any
moment. The Indian chief, Wolf-hunter and Esock Mayall each examined
their guns, put on their belts with a large tomahawk and hunting-knife
by their side, and Wolf-hunter stationed himself about twenty rods up in
the direction the bears had gone, behind a large tree; the Indian chief
about ten rods nearer the tent, and Esock Mayall about the same distance
from the tent, but nearer the creek, whilst young Mayall's wife was
clearing out of the cottage the leaves that the bears had carried in.
There had risen a dark cloud where the sun went down, and muffled sound
of distant thunder could be heard, whilst night was dropping her sable
curtain around the horizon. But no hunter on his nightly p