He then made an excuse for stopping a little while, leaving his companion to go on alone.

He was very careful not again to overtake him.

The boy had then, with four dollars in his pocket, a foot journey before him of between three and four hundred miles.

And this was to be taken through desolate regions of morass and forest, where, not unfrequently, the lurking Indian had tomahawked, or gangs of half-famished wolves had devoured the passing traveller.

He was also liable, at any time, to be caught by night and storm, without any shelter.
As he was sauntering along slowly, that he might be sure and not overtake his undesirable companion, he met a wagoner coming from Greenville, in Tennessee, and bound for Gerardstown, Berkeley County, in the extreme northerly part of Virginia.