He passed the rolling-house and drew near to the river, riding again through tobacco.

These plants were Oronoko; the mild sweet-scented took the higher ground.

Along the river bank grew a row of tall and stately trees: passing beneath them, he saw the shining water between brown columns or through a veil of slight, unfolding leaves.

Soon the trees fell away, and he came to a stretch of bank,--here naked earth, there clad in grass and dewberry vines.

Near by was a small landing, with several boats fastened to its piles; and at a little distance beyond it, shadowed by a locust-tree, a strongly built, two-roomed wooden house, with the earth around it trodden hard and bare, and with two or three benches before its open door.