civilization in the heart of the wilderness! Oil-boats and
lumber-wagons, avaunt! Those women at Corry had evidently been
practising upon her ignorance, and amusing themselves with her terrors!

A sudden rush of citizens toward the edge of the platform interrupted
these meditations.

"What is it?" asked Miselle, wildly, as her companion seized her arm,
and hurried her along with the crowd.

"The carriage. There is a rush for places. There! we're too late, I'm
afraid."

They halted, as he spoke, beside a long, heavy wagon, such as is used
in the Eastern States for drawing wood, springless, with boards laid
across for seats, and with no means of access save the clumsy wheels.
Upon an elevated perch in front sat the driver, grinning over his
shoulder at the scrambling crowd of passengers, most of whom were now
loaded upon the wagon, while a circle of disappointed aspirants danced
wildly around it, looking for a yet possible nook or cranny.

"Can't you make room for this lady? I will walk," vociferated Mr.
Williams.

"Can't be did, Capting. Reckin, though, both on ye kin hitch on next
load," drawled the driver, turning his horses into the slough of mud
extending in every direction.

"I will walk with you. How far is it?" asked Miselle, after a brief
contemplation of the prospect.

"Not so very far; but the mud is about two feet deep all the way, and
you might soil your feet," suggested Mr. Williams, with a quizzical
smile.

The objection was unanswerable; and Miselle, folding herself in the
mantle of resignation, waited until the next troubling of the pool,
when, rushing with the rest, she was safely hoisted into the cart, and
the drive commenced.

"You had better cling to my arm here; it's a mud-hole; don't be
frightened," exclaimed Mr. Williams, as the horses suddenly disappeared
from view, and the wagon poised itself an instant on the edge of a
chasm, and then plunged madly after them.

"Heavens! what _has_ happened? Have they run away? Didn't the driver see
where they were going? There! we're going o--ver!" shrieked Miselle.

"No, no; we're all right now, don't you see? The poor nags aren't likely
to run much here; and though the driver saw it well enough, he couldn't
help going through. That's a fair specimen of the road all down the
Creek. Now here's a gully. Cling to me, and don't be frightened."

It is very easy to say, "Don't be frightened"; but when a wagon with
four wheels travels for a conside