grew late and we had to drive five miles into the night to find a
stoppingplace." Two of the Brethren went ahead "to seek out the
road" through the darkened wilderness. There were rough hills in
the way; and, the horses being exhausted, "Brethren had to help
push." But, in due season, "Br Nathanael held evening prayer and
then we slept in the care of Jesus," with Brother Gottlob as
usual in his hammock. Three days later the record runs: "Toward
evening we saw Jeams River, the road to it ran down so very steep
a hill that we fastened a small tree to the back of our wagon,
locked the wheels, and the Brethren held back by the tree with
all their might." Even then the wagon went down so fast that most
of the Brethren lost their footing and rolled and tumbled
pell-mell. But Faith makes little of such mishaps: "No harm was
done and we thanked the Lord that he had so graciously protected
us, for it looked dangerous and we thought at times that it could
not possibly be done without accident but we got down safely...
we were all very tired and sleepy and let the angels be our
guard during the night." Rains fell in torrents, making streams
almost impassable and drenching the little band to the skin. The
hammock was empty one night, for they had to spend the dark hours
trench-digging about their tent to keep it from being washed
away. Two days later (the 10th of November) the weather cleared
and "we spent most of the day drying our blankets and mending and
darning our stockings." They also bought supplies from settlers
who, as Brother Grube observed without irony,

"are glad we have to remain here so long and that it means money
for them. In the afternoon we held a little Lovefeast and rested
our souls in the loving sacrifice of Jesus, wishing for beloved
Brethren in Bethlehem and that they and we might live ever close