hich made them
less suspicious of us; but in the dead of night, as we lay in a thick
cane-brake by a large fire, when sleep had locked up their senses, my
situation not disposing me for rest, I touched my companion and gently
awoke him. We improved this favourable opportunity, and departed,
leaving them to take their rest, and speedily directed our course
towards our old camp, but found it plundered, and the company dispersed
and gone home. About this time my brother, Squire Boon, with another
adventurer, who came to explore the country shortly after us, was
wandering through the forest, determined to find me, if possible, and
accidentally found our camp.

Notwithstanding the unfortunate circumstances of our company, and our
dangerous situation, as surrounded with hostile savages, our meeting
so fortunately in the wilderness made us reciprocally sensible of the
utmost satisfaction. So much does friendship triumph over misfortune,
that sorrows and sufferings vanish at the meeting not only of real
friends, but of the most distant acquaintances, and substitutes
happiness in their room.

Soon after this, my companion in captivity, John Stewart, was killed
by the savages, and the man that came with my brother returned home by
himself. We were then in a dangerous, helpless situation, exposed daily
to perils and death amongst savages and wild beasts, not a white man in
the country but ourselves.

Thus situated, many hundred miles from our families in the howling
wilderness, I believe few would have equally enjoyed the happiness we
experienced. I often observed to my brother, You see now how little
nature requires to be satisfied. Felicity, the companion of content,
is rather found in our own breasts than in the enjoyment of external
things; And I firmly believe it requires but a little philosophy to
make a man happy in whatsoever state he is. This consists in a full
resignation to the will of Providence; and a resigned soul finds
pleasure in a path strewed with briars and thorns.

We continued not in a state of indolence, but hunted every day, and
prepared a little cottage to defend us from the Winter storms. We
remained there undisturbed during the Winter; and on the first day of
May, 1770, my brother returned home to the settlement by himself, for
a new recruit of horses and ammunition, leaving me by myself, without
bread, salt or sugar, without company of my fellow creatures, or even
a horse or dog. I confess I never b