This valley was encircled by the range of hills we had ascended, so far as to the belt of the forest.  We led our horses down the declivity, and in less than an hour found ourselves safe at the bottom.  A brisk ride of three or four miles through the valley brought us to the edge of the forest, where we encamped near a small creek, and after another good night’s rest, we pushed on through a mass of the noblest maple and pine-trees I had ever seen.  Now game abounded; turkeys, bears, and deer, were seen almost every minute, and, as we advanced, the traces of mules and jackasses were plainly visible.  A little further on, the footprints of men were also discovered, and from their appearance they were but a few hours’ old.  This sight made us forget our fatigues, and we hurried on, with fond anticipations of finding a speedy termination to all our sufferings.

Late in the afternoon, I killed a very fat buck, and although we were anxious to follow the tracks, to ascertain what description of travellers were before us, our horses were so tired, and our appetites so sharpened, that upon reflection, we thought it desirable to remain where we were.  I took this opportunity of making myself a pair of mocassins, with the now useless saddle-bags of the parson.

That evening we were in high glee, thinking that we had arrived at one of the recent settlements of western emigration, for, as I have observed, we had seen tracks of jackasses, and these animals are never employed upon any distant journey.  We fully expected the next morning to find some log houses, within ten or fifteen miles, where we should be able to procure another horse for the parson, and some more ammunition, as we had scarcely half a pound of balls left between us.  The lawyer enjoyed, by anticipation, the happiness of once more filling his half-gallon flask, and the doctor promised to give us dishes of his own invention, as soon as he could meet with a frying-pan.  In fine, so exuberant were our spirits, that it was late before we laid down to sleep.

At about two o’clock in the morning, feeling a pressure upon my breast, I opened my eyes, and saw Gabriel with a finger upon his lips, enjoining me to silence.  He then informed me, in a whisper, that a numerous party of thieves were in our neighbourhood, and that they had already discovered our horses.  Taking with us only our knives and tomahawks, we crawled silently till we came to a small opening in the forest, when we saw some twenty fellows encamped, without any light or fire, but all armed to the teeth.  Three or four of them appeared animated in their conversation, and, being favoured by the darkness, we approached nearer, till we were able to hear every word.

“All sleeping sound,” said one of them, “but looking mighty wretched; not a cent among them, I am sure; if I can judge by their clothing, three of them are half-breeds.”

“And the horses?” said another voice.

“Why, as to them, they have only seven,” replied the first voice, “and they are broken down and tired, although fine animals.  They would sell well after a three weeks’ grazing.”