fact, we could not help fancying, that there was some
splendid mansion in the background, to which it belonged--although we
saw that the thick, dark woods surrounded it on all sides.

"We did not remain longer than was necessary to examine the ground. We
knew that Mary would be anxiously looking for us, so we hastened back to
our wagon. In less than three hours from that time, the wagon, with its
snow-white tilt, stood in the centre of the glade, and the ox and horse,
loosed from their labour, were eagerly browsing over the rich pasture.
The children were playing on the green sward, under the shadow of a
spreading magnolia; while Mary, Cudjo, the boys, and myself, were
engaged in various occupations about the ground. The birds flew around
us, chattering and screaming, to the great delight of our little ones.
They came quite close to our encampment, perching upon the nearest
trees; and wondering, no doubt, what strange creatures we were, who had
thus intruded upon their hitherto untenanted domain. I was glad to see
them thus curious about us, as I argued from this that the sight of man
was new to them, and, therefore, we should be in no danger of meeting
with any of our own kind in the valley. It is strange, that, of all
others, man was the animal we most dreaded to meet! Yet, such was the
case; for we knew that any human beings we might fall in with in such a
place would be Indians, and, in all probability, would prove our most
cruel enemies.

"It was still early in the afternoon, and we determined to do nothing
for the remainder of that day but rest ourselves, as we had all
experienced considerable fatigue in getting far wagon up the stream.
Rocks had to be removed, and occasionally a way hewed through the thick
branches. But the difficulty being now over, we felt as though we had
reached a home, and we set about enjoying it Cudjo built a fire, and
erected a crane over it, upon which to hang our pots and kettles. The
crane consisted of two forked sticks driven in to the ground, one on
each side of the fire, with a long pole placed horizontally, and resting
upon the forks. This is the usual manner of making the crane among
backwoods' travellers, who cook their meals in the open air. The tripod
crane, used by gipsies in Europe, is rarely to be seen among the
wanderers of the American wilderness.

"In a short time, our camp-kettle, filled with pure water, was boiling
and bubbling to receive the aromatic coffee