ructions, and
having returned his generous benefactors many thanks for their kindness,
bidding them farewell with tears, set out on his dangerous journey about
three o'clock in the afternoon. He had not travelled far, before he
began to reflect on his melancholy condition, alone, unarmed,
unacquainted with the way, galled with the heavy yoke, exposed every
moment to the most imminent dangers, and dark tempestuous night
approaching with all its horrors, increased its terrors; his ears were
now assailed with the dismal yells and crying of wild beasts of different
sorts, but, remembering the instructions he had received from the
captains, he soon struck fire, and kindled some sticks, and was obliged
the whole night to swing a fireband round his head; the sight of which
kept the wild beasts from coming near, for, though they often came and
looked at him, yet they soon turned tail again, seeing the fire.

However it was with great joy he saw day-light appear, at first dawn of
which he was quite freed from those troublesome guests; he had nothing to
do but to seek the thickest tree he could find, and, climbing up into it,
he took some refreshment of sleep, which he had great need of, having
travelled hard all night. He afterwards eat sparingly of his cheese and
biscuit, fearing they might not last till he could get a fresh supply,
and then took a very large dram of rum, with which, finding his spirits
much refreshed, and night coming on, he began his journey again,
travelling in the same manner as the preceding night, with a firebrand
whirling round his head. In this manner travelling by night, and
concealing himself by day, he went on four days, when he reached the Blue
Mountains, where he thought himself out of all danger of pursuit, or
being stopped for want of a pass. He now travelled by day, meeting with
great multitudes of buffaloes, black bears, deer, wolves, and wild
turkeys, the latter being so large as to weigh thirty or forty pounds;
none of these creatures offered to attack him; but walking one day on the
side of a small rivulet, almost lost in thought, he was suddenly alarmed
by something he heard plunging into the water, and turning his head to
the side from whence the noise came, he was struck with the sight of a
great white bear, which, being likewise disturbed, raised itself
immediately and made towards him. Our hero now thought there was no way
to escape; however, with great presence of mind, he stepped