n killing several red-deer and a couple of elk,
which we stored up for our winter provision. We did not find the
black-tails very palatable, and most of their flesh went to feed Castor
and Pollux.

"Cudjo was the busiest of all of us. He made several household utensils
which proved of great service to us. He also constructed for himself a
wooden plough, which would serve every purpose--as there was a
considerable portion of the ground that was without turf, and could be
easily turned. This part had been covered with beautiful flowers, such
as sunflowers, red and orange-coloured poppies, and asclepias. It was
almost a pity to plough them up.

"With an eye to the future scarcity of our ammunition, we had begun to
practise hunting with a weapon which would answer all our purposes
almost as well as the rifle--still keeping the latter of course for
great occasions. We had found some of the _bois d'arc_, or "Osage
orange," as it is called, growing in the valley. This is the famous
bow-wood of the Indians; and taking a hint from these children of
Nature, we made three bows, stringing them--as the Indians do--with the
sinews of the deer. For arrows, we had the straight cane-reeds; and
Cudjo made us a set of barbs out of iron spikes that we had taken from
the wagon. With daily practising at a mark, before the winter was over,
we were all three able to use our new weapons to some purpose; and
Harry, to his mother's great delight, could bring down a squirrel from
the top of the highest tree in the valley. As a marksman, both with the
bow and rifle, he was quite superior to Frank, who, instead of feeling
jealous, seemed rather to be proud of the skill of his brother. Harry,
during all the winter, kept our table loaded with partridges,
squirrels--of which there were several species--hares, and wild turkeys;
the last of which, being much finer than tame ones, of course we were
all very fond of.

"My wife, too, added largely to the delicacies of our table. During the
last days of autumn, she made several botanical excursions--of course,
all of us accompanying her by way of guard--and in each of these some
useful production was discovered. We found several species of wild
fruits--currants, cherries, and a small fruit known as the
"serviceberry," which grew in great profusion. All these fruits were
gathered in quantity, and made into preserves. We obtained roots as
well--one of which was the _pomme-blanche_, or Indian