to observe, when the undertaking was such as could hardly be supposed to deserve the blessing of God.  Still, there is every reason to believe that their piety, as a body, was sincere; and while we condemn the sternness and severity into which they were too frequently betrayed, we must yield our heartfelt approbation to the self-denying resolution and unflinching faith that were their governing principle and their ever-actuating motive.  Well have these principles and motives been described by a late well-known poet, and well may we conclude this introductory chapter with the last verse of that exquisite song, with the first of which we commenced it: 

’What sought they thus afar? 
    Bright jewels of the mine? 
The wealth of seas, the spoils of war? 
    They sought a faith’s pure shrine. 
Aye—­call it holy ground
    The soil where first they trod! 
They have left unstain’d what there they found—­
    Freedom to worship God!’

CHIAPTER II.

’In much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, In distresses...  As having nothing, and yet possessing all things.’—­2 COR. vi, 4, 10.

’Is it not much that I may worship Him,
With naught my spirit’s breathings to control,
And feel His presence in the vast, and dim,
And whispering woods, where dying thunders roll
        From the far cat’racts?’ Hemans.

With some anxiety the settlers saw the exploring party set out on their hazardous enterprise.  The season was far advanced, and drifting snowstorms gave warning of the inclement winter that was rapidly setting in.  Still it was deemed necessary to make some investigation into the nature of the country, and to endeavor to obtain, if possible, a supply of provisions before the increasing severity of the weather should render it impracticable to do so.  But, above all, it was desirable to ascertain what native tribes dwelt in the vicinity of the settlement, and to use every means to establish friendly relations with them; not only because such a course would be most in accordance with the principles of the Gospel which the emigrants professed to hold and to practice, but also because, in the present state of the infant colony, they were altogether unprepared to resist any attack that might be made on them by a large body of Indians.

Maitland led his party inland at first, and for two days they saw no traces or human inhabitants; but on the afternoon of the third day, as they were looking about for a convenient spot on which to encamp for the night, some large and apparently artificial mounds of earth were observed, scattered over an open glade in the forest.  At the first glance, they appeared like dwelling places; and, knowing something of the habits of the Indians, Rodolph and two of his companions approached them warily, fearing to surprise and irritate the inhabitants.  But after making a circuit,