The next night I put up at a tavern, and continued stopping at public houses until my means were about gone.

When I got to the Black Swamp in the county of Wood, Ohio, I stopped one night at a hotel, after travelling all day through mud and snow; but I soon found that I should not be able to pay my bill.

This was about the time that the "wild-cat banks" were in a flourishing state, and "shin plasters"[3] in abundance; they would charge a dollar for one night's lodging.
After I had found out this, I slipped out of the bar room into the kitchen where the landlady was getting supper; as she had quite a number of travellers to cook for that night, I told her if she would accept my services, I would assist her in getting supper; that I was a cook.

She very readily accepted the offer, and I went to work.
She was very much pleased with my work, and the next morning I helped her to get breakfast.

She then wanted to hire me for all winter, but I refused for fear I might be pursued.