He had not proceeded far in this manner when he caught the dim rays of a
distant fire, flickering and ascending among the trees to the left of
the direction he was taking. The blaze had something in it excessively
cheering, and, changing his course, he went forward under its guidance.
In this effort, he stumbled upon something like a path, which, pursuing,
brought him at length to a small and turbid creek, into which he plunged
fearlessly, and soon found himself in swimming water. The ford had been
little used, and the banks were steep, so that he got out with
difficulty upon the opposite side. Having done so, his eye was enabled
to take a full view of the friendly fire which had just attracted his
regard, and which he soon made out to proceed from the encampment of a
wagoner, such as may be seen every day, or every night, in the wild
woods of the southern country.
He was emigrating, with all his goods and gods, to that wonderfully
winning region, in the estimation of this people, the valley of the
Mississippi.
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