Having thus made a hasty exploration of their new home, the party
returned to the landing, to which their goods were being unloaded
from the lighter by Jan and the crew. Leaving Mrs. Elmer and Ruth
here, Mr. Elmer and Mark crossed the river to the village to see
what they could procure in the way of teams and help.

Of the twenty houses in the village, many of which were in a most
dilapidated condition, only two were occupied by white families,
the rest of the population being colored. There were no stores nor
shops of any kind, the only building not used as a dwelling-house
being a small church very much out of repair. The white men living
in the village were away from home, but from among the colored
people, who were much excited at the arrival of strangers in their
midst, Mr. Elmer engaged two men and their wives to cross the
river and go to work at once. He also engaged a man who owned a
team of mules and a wagon, and who would go over as soon as the
lighter was unloaded and could be used to ferry him across.

On its return to the other side, the canoe was followed by a skiff
containing the newly engaged colored help, whose amazement at
everything they saw, and especially at the canoe, was unbounded.
One of the men expressed his wonder at the little craft by saying,
"Dat ar trick's so light, I reckon it's gwine leab de water some
fine day, an' fly in de yair, like a duck."

Mrs. Elmer provided the women with brooms, mops, and pails, and
took them up to the house, where they proceeded to put the lower
story in order for immediate occupation. Mr. Elmer armed the men
with axes, and soon had them engaged in a struggle with the