The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1831-08-31


several times, and once pinched me on the side
so violently, that the pain nearly brought fortf
an exclamation of anger. | looked at him
HIS eye met mine but his look was so forbid
ding, that it struck chill into the more ner.
yous part of my system. He again seated him
self, drew his butcher knife from his greasy
scabbard, examined its edge, as | would dc
that OF razor suspected dull, replaced it, and
again taking his tomahawk from his back filled
the pipe of 1t with tobacco, and sent me expires
sive glances whenever our hostess CHANGED to
have her back towards u.s.
Never until that moment had my senses been
awakened to the danger which now suspected
to be about me. | returned glance for glance
to my companion, and rested well assured that
whatever enemies might have, he was not OF
their number.
i asked the woman for my watch, wound il
up, and under pretence of wishing to see how
the weather might probably be on the NOR.
row, took up my gun, and walked out of the
cabin. slipped ball into each barrel, scrap
ed the edges of my hints, renewed the prim-
lngs, and returning to the hut, gave a favora
BILE account ofmy observations | took few
bear-skins, made pallet OF them, and calling
my faithful dog to my side, lay down, with my
gun close to my body, and in few minutes
was to all appearance, fast asleep.
short time had elapsed, when some voices
were heard, and from the corner of nv ewes
saw two athletic youths making their entrance,
bearing dead stag on a pole. They disposed
! OF their burden, and asking for whiskey helped
themselves freel y to it. Observing me and the
wounded Indian, they asked who | was and
why that rascal (meaning the Indian who. thew
knew, understood not a word of English) was
IN the house. The mother-for so she proved
to be, bade them speak less loudly, made men.
tlon of my watch, and took them to corner
/ Uinra
OF which it required little shrewdness in me to
guess tapped my dog gently. He moved
his tail, and with indescribable pleasure saw
his fine eyes alternately fixed on me and raised
! towards the trio in the corner. | felt that he
perceived the danger of my situation The
Indian exchanged glance with me-
The lads had eaten and drunk themselves in
to such condition, that | already looked upon
them as hors de combat; and the frequent Wis
its Of tho whlskey bottle to the ugly mouth of
Their dam hoped would soon reduce her TO
like state. Judge of my establishment, reader
when saw this lncarnate fend take a large
carving knife and go to the grindstone to whet
It's edge. saw her pour the water on the
turning machine, and watched her working
away with the dangerous instrument until The
cold sweat covered every part of my body, in
despite OF my determination TO defend vself
to the last. Her task finished, she walked to
her reeling sons, and said " There, that'll soon
settle him Boys, kill you -, and then for
the watch"
| turned cooked my gun-locks silently, touch
cd my faithful companion, and lay ready to start
az and Shnnt the first ruhn might nttarnpt my
life. The moment was fast approaching, and
that night might have been my last in this
world, had not Providence made preparat lens
for my rescue. All was ready. The Internal
bag was advancing slowly, probably contem-
plating the best way of despatching me, whilst
her sons should be engaged with the Indian
was several times on the eve of rising, and
shooting her on the spot but she was not to
be punished thus The door was suddenly
opened, and there entered two stout travellers,
each with long rife on his shoulder bounc.
ed up on my feet, and making them most hear
THY welcome, told them how well it was for
me that they should have arrived at that mo.
ment. The tale was told in moment. The
drunken sons were secured and the woman, in
spite OF her defence and vociferations shared
the same fate. The Indian fairly danced with
Joy, and gave us TO understand that, as he could
not sleep for pain, he would watch over u.s.
You may suppose we silent much less than we
talked. The two strangers gave me an account
OF their once having been themselves in a some.
what similar situation. Day came, fair and 70.
sy and with it the punishment of our captives
| They were now quite sobered. Their feet
were unbound, but their arms were still secure
ly tied. We marched them into the woods
| OF: the road, and having used them as Regula-
tors were wont to use such delnquenls we set
! fire TO the cabin, gave all the skins and imple-
ments to the young Indian warrior, and pro-
| ceeded, we'll pleased, towards the settlements.
! During upwards of twenty-five years, when
my wanderngs extended to all parts of our
country, this was the only time at which my
/ life was in danger from my fellow creatures
indeed, so little risk DO travellers run in the
! United States, that no one born there ever
dreams of any to be encountered on the road !;
and can only account for this occurrence by
supposing that the inhabitants of the cabin
! were not Americans.