This proved to be almost perpendicular down a hill, studded with young trees and stumps.
From these he proposed, with a hospitality of service worthy an Oriental, to free our wheels whenever they should get entangled, also to be himself the drag, to prevent our too rapid descent.

Such generosity deserved trust; however, we women could not be persuaded to render it.

We got out and admired, from afar, the process.

Left by our guide and prop, we found ourselves in a wide field, where, by playful quips and turns, an endless "creek," seemed to divert itself with our attempts to cross it.

Failing in this, the next best was to whirl down a steep bank, which feat our charioteer performed with an air not unlike that of Rhesus, had he but been as suitably furnished with chariot and steeds! At last, after wasting some two or three hours on the "short cut," we got out by following an Indian trail,--Black Hawk's! How fair the scene through which it led! How could they let themselves be conquered, with such a country to fight for! Afterwards, in the wide prairie, we saw a lively picture of nonchalance (to speak in the fashion of clear Ireland).