under the shade of a fern tree. The explorers found themselves at the base of a range of hills covered with timber, which were succeeded by yet higher ranges, until in the extreme distance the craggy peaks of mountains were seen capped with snow. Hitherto they had passed over low undulating thinly timbered land, and the contrast afforded by the prospect before them was very great. To penetrate the unknown region bid fair to tax all their energies as well as patience, but there was the attraction of novelty; so that when they deliberated upon which course to take, it was unanimously determined that an endeavour should be made to penetrate through the scrub, which stood like a barrier betwixt them and the distant hills.
"In all cases of difficulty" said Dodge, "there's nothing like a pipe of tobacco: it affords a man opportunity for thought. Now I am in doubt where we had best strike into the scrub, so we will smoke over it." He was soon enveloped in fragrant clouds from his pipe, which was quite an antiquity. "Really," he said, between the puffs, "the way some smoke in this country is dreadful—moderation in all things, I say. I take one pipe the first thing in the morning to destroy the effects of the night dews, one or two after breakfast to fit me for my day's work, two or three after dinner to promote digestion, and a few after I have turned in at night to keep off mosquitoes. A man can scarcely be more moderate than that, I think." Whatever his friends might have thought, they did not feel disposed to dispute the proposition.
After Dodge had been silent for a short time, he exclaimed, "We must go through it;" and depositing the pipe in his pouch, he flourished his tomahawk, and, joined by Hugh and Slinger, they commenced a vigorous attack upon the part of the scrub which seemed most likely to give way under their exertions. After working for several hours most energetically they
