It was now early twilight, and I could see timber at a short distance. I was so weak that I reeled badly, as I walked, but the sight of the woods revived my strength somewhat, and I dragged myself along, thinking that about five of the sixteen miles of the route to “Dutch Charley’s,” were accomplished, and vainly hoping that before night I might travel the remaining eleven miles. As I neared the timber, I heard the crowing of fowls in several directions. It was now broad day, and I discovered that this was not Buffalo Lake, but Lake Shetak! I cannot describe my grief and despair, at finding myself back there, after wandering two long nights, with feet bleeding and torn by briers and rough weeds, and with nothing to eat for three nights and two days. My fear of Indians caused me to creep into the first bunch of weeds, for shelter, and I covered my head and face with the apron, to keep off the musquitoes, which stung me beyond all endurance. I began to feel sick, and a weak, faint feeling would come over me at times, which I attributed to extreme hunger. I thought that if I got away from that place, I must get something to eat, or die soon of weakness and starvation. There was a house not far off, which I knew to have belonged to my old friend and neighbor, Thomas Ireland, and if I could get to it, I might, perhaps, find something eatable. After wavering for a long time, in a state of uncertainty, between the fear of starvation and the fear of the Indians, I chose to risk the danger of being discovered by them, knowing that to remain without food longer, was death. At about ten o’clock I started for the house. I had to cross a small slough, the opposite side of which was a high bank, covered thick with brush. With great pain attending every step, I crossed the slough, gained the other side, and essayed to climb the bank; I parted the brush, in order to get through with the least possible pain, but the brush would catch between my toes at every step, causing me to groan aloud. God only knows what I suffered. Entirely discouraged, I lay down in the midst of the brush to _die_! I reflected that all that had kept me alive, hitherto, was my great desire and determination to live; hence, that all I now needed to do, was to lie down, determined to die, and death would soon relieve my sufferings. But I was mistaken: I found that I could not die, unless it was God’s will, and in His time. I lay here until noon; then arose and started once more for the house. By pulling myself up by the bushes, I at last reached the top, and found myself within a short distance of a corn field. Though in such an exhausted state that I could scarcely walk, I dragged myself to the field. I plucked the first ear I could reach, sat down, and, after many efforts, pulled off the green husks. I then ate two rows of the milky kernels of green corn, but they made me very sick at the stomach. But, after lying down for some time, I arose, feeling a great deal better,