I was too well pleased with the novelty of my outfit, with my hunting-knife in a gay scabbard hanging from my neck, and my tin cup at my saddle-bow, to regard minor inconveniences.
On reaching Duck Creek, we took leave of our young friends, who remained on the bank long enough to witness our passage across--ourselves in the canoe, and the poor horses swimming the stream, now filled with cakes of floating ice.
Beyond the rising ground which formed the opposite bank of the stream, extended a marsh of perhaps three hundred yards across.

To this the men carried the canoe which was to bear us over.

The water was not deep, so our attendants merely took off the pack from Brunet and my side-saddle from Le Gris, for fear of accidents, and then mounted their own steeds, leading the two extra ones.

My husband placed the furniture of the pack-horse and my saddle in the centre of the canoe, which he was to paddle across.
"Now, wifie," said he, "jump in, and seat yourself flat in the bottom of the canoe." "Oh, no," said I; "I will sit on the little trunk in the centre; I shall be so much more comfortable, and I can balance the canoe exactly." "As you please; but I think you will find it is not the best way." A vigorous push sent us a few feet from the bank.

At that instant two favorite greyhounds whom we had brought with us, and who had stood whining upon the bank, reluctant to take to the water as they were ordered, gave a sudden bound, and alighted full upon me.