As soon as it was dark, I started on my weary journey toward the timber. I walked some hours, and then laid me down to rest, on the damp ground. The dew on the grass was very heavy; I thought I could scoop up some of it with my hand, and obtain relief, but it was in vain that I tried it. I then took up the bottom of my skirt, and sucked the moisture from it, until I had partially quenched my thirst. I thought it the sweetest water I ever drank. I now curled myself up on the ground for a nap, trying to get myself warm, by drawing the apron over my head and face, and breathing on my benumbed hands. I shook from head to foot. I was chilled through, and my teeth chattered. I heard something approach me, which I supposed, from the step, &c., was a wolf. I heard him snuffling around my head awhile, and then running away. I did not even look up, for I felt not the least fear of anything but Indians. Soon sleep and weariness overcame me, and I slept for some time. When I awoke, I felt quite refreshed, and started once more on my toilsome journey. But, by this time, my feet had become very sore; the flesh was worn almost to the bone, on the top of my toes, by the coarse prairie grass. Indeed, it was quite a hardship for me to walk, at all, but the sweet hope that I should soon reach “Dutch Charley’s,” buoyed up my sinking spirit. If I could only reach that place, I should be well cared for, and assisted to some friendly settlement, whence I could inform distant friends of my misfortunes. I traveled on in the darkness, through sloughs, and high tangled grass, and soon found a slough that was filled with water. Here I satisfied my burning thirst, but it was very difficult getting through it: the grass was as tall as my shoulders, and twisted and matted so that I had to part it before me, to get along. Most of the way, the water was as much as two and a half feet deep. I got so fatigued in wading this wide slough that I was almost obliged to sit down in it, and rest myself. As soon as I set my foot on dry land again, I lay down and rested a long time, before starting again.