edar-swamps and
over ridges, with the snow half-way up to his knees, till the approach
of darkness compelled him to look out for some place to shelter him
from the storm, where he might best pass the weary hours of the coming
night.

He selected a dry spot beneath some spreading cedars, and busied
himself as long as daylight lasted in collecting as much fire-wood as
would last till the morning. He then gathered a quantity of hemlock-
brush for his bed, and by breaking off some large limbs from the
surrounding evergreens, succeeded at last in forming a temporary
shelter. For a long time he despaired of getting a fire, till he at
length found some dry cedar-bark, which he finally succeeded in
igniting with a piece of punk,* which every backwoodsman carries with
him for that purpose. Though the poor fellow had only taken with him
provisions for a day's journey, he made a hearty supper, merely
reserving a portion for his breakfast, not suspecting that he should
fail in reaching his destination. He fully expected he should see the
sun in the morning, which would enable him to correct this course; for
he knew that he was in the township of Manvers, and not more than seven
or eight miles from his own home.

[* A substance obtained from the sugar-maple, similar to German
tinder.]

Wearied with his day's journey, he slept the greater part of the night,
although awakened occasionally by the cold. At such times he would heap
fresh fuel on the fire, and again compose himself to sleep.

To his infinite joy the morning beamed brightly--the sun shone out.
With a light heart and renewed confidence he again shaped his course
eastward, following the direction in which his house lay; and there is
no doubt, had the day remained clear, he would in a few hours have
extricated himself from the dilemma into which he had fallen. His
disappointment was great when he again beheld the sky overcast, and the
snow falling thickly around him. He pushed on, however, bravely, till
at length a thick cedar-swamp lay before him. For some time he
travelled along its edge, in the hope of finding a narrow spot to
cross, but in this he was disappointed, so he determined to attempt the
passage. He fully believed, once on the other side, he should know the
face of the country, from his having so often hunted game, or searched
for his cattle in that direction.

For fully an hour he pressed on through a complete thicket of cedar;
but it was all random work,