change of weather. I was entirely unable to determine the points of the compass. My track in entering the grove, was of course completely concealed by the snow, and unfortunately I had neglected to notice the direction. My 'position' it would have been somewhat difficult to 'define,' but it was by no means enviable. In the midst of a vast prairie, covered deep with snow-exposed to the fury of the storm-wild beasts howling around-ignorant of my way-supperless, breakfastless, wet and cold, I began most heartily to wish myself safely back on the river road. But the die was cast-there was no retreat-the only alternative to take courage and go on. My unpleasant situation did not, however, prevent my making some valuable practical observations, regarding the influence of external circumstances on the power of imagination.

The warm honied kisses from blooming Hebe's, which I yesterday felt melting on my lips, now seemed changed to the embraces of icy statutes; and in place of tables groaning beneath roast turkey and venison, I could at the utmost only summon up the rusty flitch of bacon, on which I had so recently regaled myself. Eheu! little did I think that I should consider even this luxurious fare, before other could be obtained. In fifteen minutes after I awoke, my arrangements were made, and I was again on my way over the prairie. For one glance of the sun, as a clue to my course, I would willingly have forgone the pleasure of a hearty breakfast, but as there seemed little chance of such a God-send, I thought it safest to take the wind as guide, and accordingly pushed on in the teeth of the storm, this having been my direction the last evening. Although the violence of the storm and the depth of snow impeded my progress, I yet held on several miles at a fair pace, and in good spirits. For some hours I indulged the hope that I should arrive at my destination in time for the marriage ceremony; yet, as the forenoon wore away, and the appointed hour arrived, and still, on every side, as far as the eye could reach, nothing was to be seen but the boundless prairie-I was compelled to relinquish the hope, and even think myself fortunate, should I reach a place of shelter before night-fall.

The prospect was gloomy in the extreme. The snow storm had changed into a driving sleet. At intervals was heard the peculiar mournful cry of flocks of wild geese, passing from the northern lakes to a warmer climate, while ever and anon was borne on the sighing wind, the discordant croak of the prairie crane, evidently enjoying highly the rage of the elements. Here and there, beneath the shelter of some grove, might be seen herds of buffalo, quarreling with each other, crouching and shivering with the cold, while hard by were noble red deer, pawing away the snow to obtain a scanty sustenance of dried grass and leaves. The very desolateness of the far-reaching prairie, without sign of human habitation, sent a chill to the heart; and altogether the scene was as cheerless as could well be imagined. Nor did the state of things within present a more favorable aspect. My appetite, which had been well whetted since morning, now began to make the most importunate demands for food; and the constant gnawings of

hunger, I was fain to pacify for the moment, by eating large quantities of snow.

It was thus that the afternoon wore away, in the vain hope of reaching the river, or at least some human habitation. The shades of evening were gathering round, and there was every prospect of spending the dreary night on the prairie, without fire, food or shelter-no very pleasant reflection-for although the storm had ceased, the cold was rapidly increasing, and already my garments were stiffening with frost. Though hope was well nigh extinct, we still held slowly on our toilsome way for to stop was certain death-to proceed could be no more. It was shortly after dark, at the distance of two or three miles ahead, that I saw a bright light. Heaven be praised! I was at least safehad arrived in the neighborhood of human beings-should obtain food and shelter, and be put on the direct road to my destination. Many pious reflections passed through my mind, and grateful ejaculations escaped my lips, as I hastened onward, at this Providential interposition. Upon nearer approach, I noticed it as somewhat strange, that there were no enclosures, such as were usual around the dwellings of settlers; but it was easily accountd for, by supposing this the habitation of a squatter, recently located.

As I approached nearer the grove from which the light proceeded, I observed, with a little anxiety, no house apparent, nor was my presence announced by the customary bark of the watch-dog, the inseparable attendant of the western settler. Still, there must be some person near, as the fire could not have been the work of chance. I arrived at the grove, entered-no signs of life; but surely the place looked familiar. A dread presentiment, a strange chill came over me. I approached the fire. Good Heavens ! It was too true-the very same spot I had left in the morning! What I had heard of as sometimes occurring on the prairies, but had ever ridiculed as a mark of consummate folly, had actually happened to myself—I had been traveling all day in a circle! My reflections, upon making this pleasing discovery, and the precise expressions which escaped my lips, are forgotten, but they were widely different from those in which I had a short time previous indulged, in the new hope of my speedy deliverance. My heart sunk within me as I found myself, after the long and painful day's journey, no nearer my escape from the prairie than in the morning. But I had found a fire at least a cause of gratitude in the circumstances and at once determined to spend another night on the ground. My hardy mustang (which had borne his long abstinence with the most admirable stoicism) I turned loose, to provide as best he might for his own sustenance. I replenished the fire, and thawed my saturated, stiffened clothes. The clouds had cleared away, but the piercing wind, from the icy summits of the Rocky Mountains, swept unobstructed over the prairie.

I had endeavored to keep up my spirits during most of the day with the idea, that the trip would prove only a romantic adventure, which would form subject of merriment and pleasant jokes for the evening, while with jovial friends, around the cheerful fireside. My situation

now, however, was becoming fraught with too real danger to partake of the romantic. I used to read, with peculiar zest, narratives of terrible disasters, dreadful accidents, hair-breadth escapes, etc., especially where the victims were reduced to the last extremity of suffering, but escaped with life. Such accounts, however, are far pleasanter in the reading than in practical experience. Although not in the last extremity, circumstances began to look quite ominous, and it was hard to say what might happen! The wolves appeared to have increased in number and boldness since the preceding night; and one fellow in particular I noticed, of most enormous size and peculiarly fiendish leer, evidently leader of the gang, pacing back and forth so near that I could almost feel his fetid breath on my cheek. A rifle would have afforded full protection against all such unwelcome intruders; but, unfortunately, I was armed only with a jack-knife-a weapon very serviceable in its place, but of little use in those circumstances. In spite of my efforts to keep awake, the soporific effects of the fire, after the exposure of the day, soon induced a broken slumber, in which I suffered even more from the frightful images of fancy, than the waking reality. At one time, like Prometheus, I was chained to a lofty rock, while a hundred vultures were tearing out my vitals-the yells which I attempted to utter, to frighten them away, dying in whispers on my lips, a gang of demons hovering nigh, whisking their tails in my face, and laughing in fiendish glee at my impotence. At another, I found myself seated at a table, covered with the most luxurious viands, which ever, as I put them to my lips, melted into thin air, satisfying the sense of sight and smell with the most delicious repast, but tantalizing the taste and keen appetite with shadows. Now I was whirled swiftly away to the frozen regions of the north, until I stood on the polar iceberg, and felt limb by limb congealing by the frost, until, at length, I became completely assimilated to the frozen mass, yet with all the powers of consciousness entire ; and anon, was withering under the scorching heat and insufferable thirst of the torrid sun of Zahara; while on every side, from the ground on which I stood, seemed to rise innumerable monstrous scaly serpents, from which I vainly struggled to escape-the circle each moment narrowing closer and closer, until at length I felt the green poison from their hissing tongues fall on my quivering flesh. In such pastimes, passed that long, dreadful night-a night of horror never to be erased from the memory.

It was Sabbath morning. A more magnificent spectacle than was presented with the rising sun, imagination cannot conceive. Not a cloud dimmed the deep blue of the ethereal expanse-not a breath of wind stirred among the trees-not a single sound broke the deep stillness of the boundless prairie-a silence so profound that it seemed oppressive. The clear, unspotted whiteness of the vast extent of snow, strewed with glittering frost crystals, flashed in the rays of the morning sun, like a sea of molten silver. The rain of the preceding day had frozen on the trees, until, from almost every limb, depended countless icicles of every size and shape, flashing like diamonds in the morning sun, and presenting a far more magnificent spectacle than any Alad

din's palace, or fairy grotto. When these began to thaw, as I saw them later in the day, beautiful rainbows were formed among the trees, most novel and curious to behold.

Delighted, as I should have been, with such a prospect in any other situation, I now regarded it with utter indifference, nay, I should rather say, with loathing and disgust. It seemed like the cursed enchantment of some demon, got up in mockery of my sufferings. It was now becoming with me a question of life and death.

The incessant and inordinate craving of the appetite for food, and the constant dwelling of the mind on beef, bread, venison, and other substantials, was giving place to a sinking and weakness of the stomach, accompanied by nausea. The desire for food, indeed, still continued, but not that intense and eager craving for it as before.

Later in the day, I ate two or three acorns, picked up by chance, but only to increase my sufferings. The momentary alleviation which they gave, was followed by a more intense pain, seeming as though I had swallowed live coals. My faithful mustang was at my side, and the thought often passed my mind to apply my knife to his throat, and satisfy my hunger from his flesh and blood. But he was now my only hope of escape, and, besides, gratitude forbade. Nor would my danger scarcely have been lessened, for the keen-scented prairie wolves, like ravenous tigers, would have gathered in scores to the repast.

But another effort must be made to escape from the prairie. It was the Sabbath, but I had few scruples just then, in regard to its violation by traveling. I saddled and mounted my horse, although scarce able to retain my seat. With the sun as guide, I now plainly saw that on the preceding day I had taken the wrong direction. On emerging from the wood, appeared another difficulty, almost insuperable. The damp snow had been congealed by the keen frost into a thick icy crust, which, at almost every step, dreadfully lacerated the legs of my horse, leaving his course marked with blood. Notwithstanding, the hardy, faithful animal held on some miles, though slowly, and with the most painful consequences. Some time after midday, he came to a dead halt, and turned his head with a most imploring look, as much as to say, "it's no go!" I looked at his gashed and mangled legs and hunger-stricken frame, and had not the heart to urge him on. I dismounted, took the bridle in my hand, and broke the path some distance in advance; but my strength soon failed, an utter indifference to life came over me, and I sank exhausted to the ground. Just then, I saw, or thought I saw, the blue smoke of a log hut rising in the distance, and made one more effort for life. It would not do. My legs refused to support their burden-my sight grew dim-a giddiness seized my brain-I remember

no more.

When consciousness returned, I found myself in a strange room, surrounded by strange faces, by whom the circumstances of my situation were soon told. I had suspended "operations" near the dwelling of a Hoosier, by whom I was soon after discovered and taken to his house, where I had lain sick two weeks in a delirious fever. Through the

kind care and generous hospitality of my new friends, I rapidly recovered, and was soon able to pursue my course. Only ten miles distant was the residence of my fair cousin, who had taken the bridal veil; but I carefully concealed from friends my whereabouts, nor made them a call, as I was sure of being bantered most unmercifully for my ridiculous trip, and its tragical result. My arrangements were soon made, and I was on my way east-grateful for life preserved, and fully determined never to attempt another "short cut" across a prairie.