Iwentoutthismorningwithapocketcompassandwalkedinavaryingdirection，perhapsonanaverageS。byW。，1754
paces。ThenIstruckintothebush，N。W。byN。，hopingtostriketheVaituligaabovethefalls。NowIhaveitplottedoutIseeIshouldhavegoneW。orevenW。byS。；butitisnoteasytoguess。For600wearypacesIstruggledthroughthebush，andthencameonthestreambelowthegorge，whereitwascomparativelyeasytogetdowntoit。IntheplacewhereIstruckit，itmadecascadesaboutalittleisle，andwasrunningaboutN。E。，20to30feetwide，asdeepastomyknee，andpiercingcold。Itriedtofollowitdown，andkeeptherunofitsdirectionandmypaces；butwhenIwaswadingtothekneesandthewaistinmud，poisonbrush，androttedwood，boundhandandfootinlianas，shovelledunceremoniouslyofftheoneshoreanddriventotrymyluckupontheother-IsawIshouldhavehardenoughworktogetmybodydown，ifmymindrested。Itwasadamnablewalk；
certainlynothalfamileasthecrowflies，butarealbucketerforhardship。OnceIhadtopassthestreamwhereitflowedbetweenbanksaboutthreefeethigh。Togettheeasierdown，Iswungmyselfbyawild-cocoanut-socalled，itbearsbunchesofscarletnutlets-whichgrewuponthebrink。AsIsoswung，Ireceivedacrackontheheadthatknockedmeallabroad。Impossibletoguesswhattreehadtakenashyatme。Somanytoweredabove，oneovertheother，andthemissile，whateveritwas，droppedinthestreamandwasgonebeforeIhadrecoveredmywits。I
scarceknowwhatIwrite，sohideousaNiagaraofrainroars，shouts，anddemonizesontheironroof-itispitchdarktoo-thelamplitat5！ItwasablessedthingwhenIstruckmyownroad；andIgothome，neatforlunchtime，oneofthemostwonderfulmudstatueseverwitnessed。IntheafternoonItriedagain，goinguptheotherpathbythegarden，butwasearlydrownedout；camehome，plottedoutwhatIhaddone，andthenwrotethistrucktoyou。
Fannyhasbeenquiteillwithear-ache。Shewon’tgo，hatingtheseaatthiswildseason；Idon’tliketoleaveher；soitdroneson，steameraftersteamer，andIguessit’llendbynoonegoingatall。Sheisinadreadfulmisfortuneatthishour；acaseofkerosenehavingburstinthekitchen。A