The surrounding country then was almost an unbroken wilderness.
After Capt.

Helm had rested a few days at Sodus, he went six miles up the bay and purchased a large tract of land lying on both sides of that beautiful sheet of water, and put his slaves on to clear and cultivate it.

Then came the "tug of war." Neither the overseer nor the slaves had the least knowledge of _clearing_ land, and that was the first thing to be done.

It was useless to consult the Captain, for he knew still less about matters of that kind.

To obviate this difficulty, our master bought out a Mr.Cummings, who had some cleared land on the west side of the bay.