The brothers often found mischief, though they always acted the part of gentlemen even in the wilderness. They might turn burglar but paid for anything taken.

10 Wed. [Wednesday, 12 September 1806]

…6 ½ miles further we came to a tavern where we procured a luncheon of tea and toast and a second parcel of bread and butter we took in our hand, their being but one tavern in the next 13 miles, where we shall be able to get nothing as the woman who looks after it has shut it up to pay a visit to the woman who keeps this… Leaving this we came at 6 ½ miles further to tavern which its mistress had deserted and here being a well of water we staid to make our meal having been assured we should not find a drop of water anywhere else on this stage. We were obliged to go down to the bottom of [the] well by a ladder for this water where there is only a very small quantity. For our better convenience in this business we took the liberty of breaking into the deserted tavern to borrow a bason which was easily accomplished as it had no other fastening than its latch. The string of which was drawn in. And as the door was not made to shut so close as in some houses we had only put a knife through and lift the latch, we then went into the garden and cut 2 or 3 cucumbers with all which we made a comfortable repast, we were now about to return the bason to its place when a cow with its udder ready to burst with milk appear’d before [us]. We easily persuaded ourselves it would be an act of the most Christian charity both to ourselves and the poor beast to ease her of a part or her load. With this consideration in our favor we soon set about milking which considering it was our first attempt in that way we flatter’d ourselves we were pretty dexterous at, as in short time we obtained two or three good basons of milk. We then put the bason in its place with a six pence for our milk and after reversed the order of the furniture pretty much through the whole dwelling. We departed in peace.