The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1859-10-21

us still to the north, we dare not stay up,
as we were drifting further and further
to the frozen tide" from which we knew
there was no escape. Mr.. LaMountain
seized The valve cord and discharged gas,
and we descended in safety by the side Of
e tall spruce. We made the Atlantic fast
by her anchor, and for moment talked
over what we should do. We had not
mouthful 10 eat. No protection at night
from the damp ground, were distant we
knew not how lar from habitauon, were
hungry TO start with, no earthly hope of
raising fire, and no distinct idea as TO
where We were.
We settled in our own minds that we
were either in John Browns Trac, or in
the great Canada wilderness-to the south
we thought of the Ottawa-and knew that
a course south by east would take us out,
if we had strength enough to travel the
distance. LaMountaiE stepped up to the
balloon and gave the edge of the basket
a parting shake, saying, " Good bye, old
Atlantic"
They started in a south east direction
by the compass they had, and soon found
a spot where trees had been felled, FIRE
built, aud half pork barrel marked
Mess Pork, p. NJ, Montreal" BY
this Montreal inspection mark they knew
they were in Canada. They travelled all
day, Mr.. II falling into stream, and at
nigh, happened upon an old shanty,
where in some straw they spent the night
almost frozen. The next day, making a
RAFT of the roof of the shanty, foated and
poled down the stream-meanwh each
eating raw frog-until three O'Clock the
next morning. Rested short time,
again started, but came to rapids, where
the raft would not float, and they aban.
doned it..
We went back, and after examining the
stream aItentively, concluded TO get the
raft down. We at once commenced, and
freely confess this the most trying and
iaborious work Of a life of labor. The
piece would not float over rod at time,
before we would stick on some stone
which the low water left above the sur
face, and then we must pry it over in
some way, and pass it along to the mex,
obstruction. We were Obliged. TO get into
the stream, often up 10 the middle, and
there | sometimes fell headlong-com
pletely using up our compass, which now
frantically pointed in any direction its ad
died head thought desirable. The water
unglued the case, and il was ruined. AT.
ter long hours Of such labor, we got the
raft down, and LaMountain again tied il
together. Passing on in about an hour
we came 70 large lake--ten miles long,
and six miles broad Around it we must
of course pass until We should fad the
outlet, Sc we turned up TO the right and
pressed on with as much resolution a,
could be expected. To-day we found one
clam, which insisted LaNountain should
eat, rs he was weaker than myself anc
had eaten little or nothing on the day We
went up. Around we went, into all the
indentations of the shore, keeping alway:
shallow water. Al last we stopped at q
place we thought least exposed to the
wind. We laid down upon the COLI
ground, having lifted up the end Of ou
raft SO that the wind might not drive i
away in the night. We were cold wher
we laid down, and both Of us trembled b,
the hour like men suffering from severe
attack of the ague. The wind had riser
Just at night, and The dismal surging o
the waves upon the shore formed,
thought, fitting lullaby 10 slumbers s.
, disturbed and dismal AS ours. By thi
fine our clothes were nearly torn Off
My pantaloons were slit up both legs. an
Y the Wristbands nearly. torn off. NJ
e boots both leaked, and our mighty wrcsl
Il ings in the canons had torn the skin from
ankles and hands. LsMountain's hat wa
g gone the first day out he mad throw
8 away his wooden drawers and stockings
as they dragged him down by the weigh
J of the water they absorbed. We sleE
r but little. 1t really seemed as though
= during the night, we passed through III
o horrors of dozen deaths. At dayligh
y we got up by degrees-6rst on one kne
G and then on the other-so stiff and wea
l we could hardly stand. Again upon til
}, almos: endless lake we went--follown
o round its shore for an outlet. About te
;. o'cockaRe found broad northern stream
If which we thought was the outlet we wei
It seeking, and we entered it with great joy
!, believing il would take us 10 our Ion
sought Ottawa. Shortly after enterin
d the stream, it wdened out, ard assume
l. the form of lake. We poled up tn
" westerly shore for about seven miles, bl
d we found we we're again deceived. o
rs our way up Mr.. La Mountain sang the'
ID pretty lines
& Cheer up your hearts, my men;
Let nothing fright youi
@ Be OF gallant mind
. Let that delight you.
~ =. His voice was hardly above a whisper
NJ ~ but the song was source of great comic
- TO me.
=. 1t had now been four full days since "
of ale meal. All we had eaten ia the meal
,e time was frog apiece, four clans, and
,e few wild berrie, whose acid properii
e and bitter taste had probably done ,
8 more harm than good. Our strength WI
,e beginning to fail very fast. and our sy'
70 TENS were evidently about to undergo q
n extraordinary change. / did not perm
n, myself to think OF food-the thought Of
, we'll covered table would have been tc
to much. thought over ali Of poor Strain
sufferings ON The Isthmus OF Darien, whel
\. he, too. was padding raft down an III
kpown siraan,--hut naveY ha1ieved