David’s father had taught him, very sternly, one lesson, and that was implicit and prompt obedience to his demands.  The boy knew full well that it would be of no avail for him to make any remonstrance.  Silently, and trying to conceal his tears, he set out on the perilous enterprise.  The cattle could be driven but about fifteen or twenty miles a day.  Between twenty and thirty days were occupied in the toilsome and perilous journey.  The route led them often through marshy ground, where the mire was trampled knee-deep.  All the streams had to be forded.  At times, swollen by the rains, they were very deep.  There were frequent days of storm, when, through the long hours, the poor boy trudged onward, drenched with rain and shivering with cold.  Their fare was most meagre, consisting almost entirely of such game as they chanced to shoot, which they roasted on forked sticks before the fire.

When night came, often dark and stormy, the cattle were generally too much fatigued by their long tramp to stray away.  Some instinct also induced them to cluster together.  A rude shanty was thrown up.  Often everything was so soaked with rain that it was impossible to build a fire.  The poor boy, weary and supperless, spattered with mud and drenched with rain, threw himself upon the wet ground for that blessed sleep in which the weary forget their woes.  Happy was he if he could induce one of the shaggy dogs to lie down by his side, that he might hug the faithful animal in his arms, and thus obtain a little warmth.

Great was the luxury when, at the close of a toilsome day, a few pieces of bark could be so piled as to protect from wind and rain, and a roaring fire could blaze and crackle before the little camp.  Then the appetite which hunger gives would enable him to feast upon the tender cuts of venison broiled upon the coals, with more satisfaction than the gourmand takes in the choicest viands of the restaurant.  Having feasted to satiety, he would stretch himself upon the ground, with his feet to the fire, and soon be lost to all earth’s cares, in sweet oblivion.

The journey was safely accomplished.  The Dutchman had a father-in-law, by the name of Hartley, who lived in Virginia, having reared his cabin within about three miles of the Natural Bridge.  Here the boy’s contract came to an end.  It would seem that the Dutchman was a good sort of man, as the world goes, and that he treated the boy kindly.  He was so well pleased with David’s energy and fidelity, that he was inclined to retain him in his service.  Seeing the boy’s anxiety to return home, he was disposed to throw around him invisible chains, and to hold him a captive.  He thus threw every possible hindrance in the way of his return, offered to hire him as his boy of all work, and made him a present of five or six dollars, which perhaps he considered payment in advance, which bound the boy to remain with him until he had worked it out.