ng out of these, and still shrouded under
the clouded drapery of the ambiguous future.

The purposes of my travelling companion differed slightly from mine, and
were, perhaps, a little more definite. His leading idea was a
settlement of old scores with Stebbins, for wrongs done to him--which he
now more particularly detailed to me. They were sufficiently
provocative of revenge; and, from the manner of my comrade, and the vows
he occasionally uttered, I could perceive that he would be as eager in
the pursuit as myself. In all probability, an encounter with the
migrating party would bring about an important change in their
programme: since the young hunter was determined, as he expressed
himself, "to force the durned skunk into a fight."

Inspired by such motives, we pressed on to the end of our journey; and
reached the mouth of the Obion, after a long and wearisome ride. It was
midnight when we arrived upon the shore of the Mississippi--at its point
of confluence with the Tennessean stream. The land upon which we stood
was scarcely elevated above the surface of the water; and covered, every
foot of it, with a forest of the cotton-wood poplar, and other
water-loving trees. These extending along the marshy borders of both
streams, hindered us from having a view of their channels. To obtain
this, it was necessary to climb one of the trees; and my comrade being
disabled, the task devolved upon me. Dismounting, I chose one that
appeared easiest of ascent; and, clambering up it as high as I could
get, I fixed myself in a fork, and commenced duty as a vidette.

My position could not have been better chosen. It afforded me a full
view, not only of the Obion's mouth, but also of the broad channel into
which it emptied--at their confluence, forming an expanse of water that,
but for its rolling current; might have been likened to a vast lake.
There was moonlight over the whole surface; and the erratic ripples were
reflected in sparkling coruscations--scarcely to be distinguished from
the gleaming of the "lightning bugs," that hovered in myriads along the
hedges of the marsh. Both banks of the lesser stream were draped to the
water's edge with an unbroken forest of cotton-woods--the tops of which
exhibiting their characteristic softness of outline, were unstirred by
the slightest breeze. Between rolled the brown waters of the Obion, in
ruder, grander flow, and with channel extended by the freshet. Every
inch of it, fro