It was a formidable sight! They all called out with one accord,-- "Oh, do not come this way!" "Indeed," cried I, "I have no thought of it.

Charlie and I know better." And, trusting to the sagacious creature, he picked his way carefully along, and carried me safely past the dismounted company.

I could not refrain from a little triumphant flourish with my whip, as I looked back upon them and watched their progress to their saddles once more.
Three hours had we been thus unpleasantly engaged, and yet we were not over the "Slough of Despond." At length we drew near its farthest verge.
Here ran a deep stream some five or six feet in width.

The gentlemen, as they reached it, dismounted, and began debating what was to be done.
"Jump off, jump off, madam," cried Mr.Wing, and "Jump off, jump off," echoed Dr.Philleo; "we are just consulting how we are to get you across." "What do you think about it ?" asked my husband.
"Charlie will show you," replied I."Come, Charlie." And as I raised his bridle quickly, with a pat on his neck and an encouraging chirp, he bounded over the stream as lightly as a deer, and landed me safe on _terra firma_.
Poor Mr.Wing had fared the worst of the company; the clumsy animal he rode seeming to be of opinion when he got into a difficulty that he had nothing to do but to lie down and resign himself to his fate; while his rider, not being particularly light and agile, was generally undermost, and half imbedded in the mire before he had quite made up his mind as to his course of action.
It was therefore a wise movement in him, when he reached the little stream, to plunge into it and wade across, thus washing out, as much as possible, the traces of the morning's adventures from himself and his steed; and the other gentlemen, having no alternative, concluded to follow his example.
We did not halt long on the rising ground beyond the morass, for we had a long stretch before us to Bellefontaine, forty-five miles, and those none of the shortest.
Our horses travelled admirably the whole afternoon, Charlie keeping a canter all the way; but it was growing dark, and there were no signs of the landmarks which were to indicate our near approach to the desired haven.
"Can we not stop and rest for a few moments under one of the trees ?" inquired I, for I was almost exhausted with fatigue, and, to add to our discomfort, a cold, November rain was pouring upon us.
"If it were possible, we would," was the reply; "but see how dark it is growing.

If we should lose our way, it would be worse than being wet and tired." So we kept on.