We
now began to ascend the mountains, which Hastings said must be the
Black Mountains that the soldiers had talked to us about. They were
very desolate; and when night came on we collected brushwood, and cut
down branches with our knives, that we might make a fire, not only to
warm ourselves, but to scare away the wild beasts, whose howling had
already commenced. We lighted our fire and ate our supper; the loaf was
half gone, and the hams had been well cut into - we knew, therefore,
that very soon we should have to trust to our guns for procuring food.
As soon as we had finished our meal, we lay down by the fire, with our
muskets loaded close to us, and our ammunition placed out of danger. We
were so tired that we were soon fast asleep. It had been agreed that
Romer should keep the first watch, and Hastings the middle, and I the
morning; but Romer fell asleep, and the consequence was, that the fire
was not kept up. It was about midnight that I was awakened by something
breathing hard in my face, and just as I could recall my senses and
open my eyes, I found myself lifted up by my waistband, and the teeth
of some animal pinching my flesh. I tried to catch at my musket, but I
put out my wrong hand, and laid hold of a still lighted brand out of
the fire, which I darted into the animal's face; it let me drop
directly, and ran away.
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