The Arkansas advocate., 1831-10-12

i. inc edges of my iliLts. renewed the pfi- mings, returned tc the hut, and gave q favorable account Of my observations. l took few bear skins, made pallet of them, and calling my faithful dog 10 my side, lay down with my gun close to my Ibeay, and in sa few minutes was, to all appearance, fast asleep.
 sis;s had had eiIaapsed H1se, H1se, some voices were heard, and from the corner of my eyes l saw two athletic youths making their entrance, bearipga dead stag on pole. They disposed of their burden, and asking for whiskey, helped themselves freely to it. Observing me and tine wounded indian, they asked whe ] WAS, and why that rascal (mean- ing the Indian, who they knew under stood not word of EngIish) was in the house. The mother-for so she proved to be, bade them speak less loudly, made mention ofmy watch, and took themfoa corner, where q conversation took place, the purport Of which it required little shrewdness in to me guess. tapped my dog gently. He moved his tail, and with indescribable pleasure I saw his fine eyes alternately fixed on me and raised towards the trio in the corner. l felt that he perceived the danger of my sit uation. The Indian exchanged last glance with me.
 The lads had eaten and drunk them. selves into such condition. that alrea- dy looked upon them as hors dz consbot; and the frequent visits of the whiskey bottle to the ugly mouth of their dam hoped would soon reduce her to a like state. Judge of my astonishment, read CT, when saw this incarnate fiend take Il large carving kinfc, and go to the grindstone to whetits 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 de- fend myself to the last. Her task fin ished, she walked to her reeIing sons and said, 1'There, that;il soonsetle him Boys. kill you -, and then for the watch
 lturned, cooked my gun-locks silent ly, touched my faithful companion, and lay ready to start dp and shoot the first who might attempt my life. The mo- ment was fast approaching, and that night might have beeh my last in this world had not Providence made prepar ations for my rescue. All was ready. The internal bag was'advaneing slowly. probably contemplating the best way of despatching me, whilst her sons should be engaged with the Indian. was se- veral times oil the eve of rising, and shooting her on the spot: but she was not te he punished thus. The I Vie door vas | opened. and there entered two stout travellros, each with q long rifle on !; bis shoulder. ]. bounced up on my feet, 1 and making themmostheartily welcome, told them how well 1t was for ,ne that | they should have arrived at that mo- ment. The tale was told in a moment. 1 The drunken sons were secured, and the old 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 aot sleep for pain, he would watch over us. You may suppose we slept much less than we talked. The two stran- gers gave me an account of their once having themselves in somewhat similar situation. Day came, fair and rosy. and with it the punishment of our eaptives.
 They were now quite sobered. Their feet were unbound but their arms were still securely tied. We marched them intothe woods off the road. and having used them as Regulators were wont to use such delinqnents, we set fire to the cabin, gave all the skins and implements to the young Indian warrior, and pro. ceeded, well pleased, towards the set 1 dement's.
 During upwards of twenty five years, when my wandering extended to ali 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 danger to be encounter ed on the road; and can only account for this occurrence by supposing that | the 5inhabifanfs of {ha .,ab;,,