The man said there was another house farther
along where we might get something to eat, and he would follow in a
short time and go with us to the lake. We soon reached the second
dwelling where we found a woman and children; the husband having gone
to the settlement for supplies. She gave us some ham and corn bread,
to which we added tea from our own stock. When we were approaching
the house, we saw a deer making for the thick forest. This was the
only deer that I saw after my trip on the lake with Burr. When our
meal was over, we followed the Irishman into the thick wood where
there was no path, and where our way was often blocked by fallen
trees. Many times in the course of an hour we heard the noise caused
by the fall of a tree, and once when winding our way by the steep side
of a mountain, we saved ourselves by fleeing towards the lake. The
tree was a huge yellow birch and it was so much decayed that it was
broken into thousands of pieces, trunk as well as branches.
When we began our trip, Pierce was unwell and the tramp of this day
quite overcame him. He often sat down upon fallen trees, and deplored
his folly in going into the woods. He amused us by his bids, offering
first five dollars and then from time to time advancing his offer to
anyone who would set him down at old John C.'s. When we came in sight
of the lake we raised the sum of fifty cents for our guide and
dismissed him.
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