Transcription:
2. The genuine calm of a July morning was now master of all - the river followed on, smooth as a woodland lake, reflecting
the full beams of the dreamy light - While out on all the dark foliage which feathered its mountain wall, moved a single h
illegible . We stood harnessed and half asleep with the settled calm, looking wishfully upon the cool waters, when suddenly
the thought struck us How fine it would be to purchase a boat and sail merrily up the Wisconsin to Portage We would read and
work the oars by turns as our heavy packs would be stowed snugly away beneath the seats and every few miles we would land
at an inviting place and gather new spoils - and so in a few minutes we had our effects packed snugly as I have described
in a pretty boat, and were joyfully floating on the bo illegible of the Father of waters, illegible Alas how vain our illegible
illegible illegible illegible 3. bliss. We reached the mouth of the river Wis and soon our bright faces grow less and
less bright till gloomy as a winters day as we paddle with all our might shooting bravely on against the current at the fearful
illegible ten illegible per two hours - at last completely exhausted we give up for the present in despair and are instantly
returned to the Mississippi by the coiling current but we were not yet beaten for holding a counsel of war against the bustling
stream we determined to Try Try Again so landing we procured a pair of boards by a nocessitions act of self illegible and
proceeded to make two pair of oars - they were nearly made before dark; we found a new camping ground and sought illegible
with hearts again trimmed with fresh illegible but now goodbye for the present. I shall