Some of the boats then left for Natchez, and others for the Illinois country; while the remainder turned their prows up stream, to stem the rapid current--a task for which they were but ill-suited.

The work was very hard, the provisions were nearly gone, and the crews were almost worn out by hunger and fatigue.

On the 24th they entered the mouth of the Cumberland.

The _Adventure_, the heaviest of all the craft, got much help from a small square-sail that was set in the bow.
Two days afterwards the hungry party killed some buffalo, and feasted on the lean meat, and the next day they shot a swan "which was very delicious," as Donelson recorded.

Their meal was exhausted and they could make no more bread; but buffalo were plenty, and they hunted them steadily for their meat; and they also made what some of them called "Shawnee salad" from a kind of green herb that grew in the bottoms.
On the last day of the month they met Col.