CHAPTER ONE.
THE HOME OF THE HUNTER-NATURALIST.
Go with me to the great river Mississippi.

It is the longest river in the world.

A line that would measure it would just reach to the centre of the earth,--in other words, it is four thousand miles in length.

Go with me to this majestic river.
I do not wish you to travel to its source; only as far up as Point Coupee, about three hundred miles from its mouth.

There we shall stop for a while--a very short while--for we have a long journey to make.
Our route lies to the far west--over the great prairies of Texas; and from Point Coupee we shall take our departure.
There is a village at Point Coupee--a quaint, old, French-looking village built of wood.