Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1841-07-13
From the London Literary Gazette.
AN ADVENTURE ON THE PRAIRIE
BY IL. AUDUBON.

W "y IStulh lIOHl INC upper MlSSlS
sippi found myself obliged to cross on,
OF the wide parties, which, in that pot
ton ofthe United States, vary the appear
ancs of the country. The weather wa
fine, all around me was as fresh anc
blooming as if it had just issued from the
bosom of nature. My knapsack, my CUR
and my dog were all had for baga ge
and company. But, although we'll moe
casned [ moved slowly along, attracted
by the brilliahcy of the flowers and the
gambols OF the fawns around their dams
TO all'appearance as thoughtless of dan
ger as / felt myself.
My march was of long duration; saw
the sun sinking beneath the horizon long
before | could preceiVe any appearance e
of woodland, and nothing in the shape oi
man had met with that day. The track
which followed was only an old Indian
trace, and as darkness overshado wed the
prairie, l felt some desire to reach at
least copse, in which might lie down
to lest. The night hawks were skim
ming over and around me attracted BY the
buzzing wings of the beetles which form
their food, and the distant bowling, of
wolves gave me some hope that | should
soon arrive at the skirts Of some wood
land.
| did so, and almost at the same inst.
fire-light attracting my eye. moved to-
wards it; full of confidence that it pro-
ceeded from the camp of wandering In
dians. | was mistaken: discovered by
its glare that it was from the hearth of a
small lOg-cabin, and that a tall figure pas
sed and re-passed between it and me, as
If busily engaged in household arrange
ments.
reached the spot, aud presenting my
self at the door, asked the tall figure
which proved to be women, if Imight
take shelter under her roof for the night.
Her voice was rough, and her attire neg
ligently thrown about her. She answer
ed in the affirmative. | walked in, took
wooden stool, and quietly seated my
self by the fire. The next object that
attracted my attention was a finely-form-
ed young ndiaD,resting his head between
his hands, and his elbows on his knees
A long bow rested against the log wall
near him, while quantity Of arrows and
two or three raCcoon skins lay at his feet
He moved not, he apparently breathed
not. Accustomed TO the habits of the
Indians, and knowing that they pay little
attention to the approach of civilized
strangers Ia circumstance which,in some
countries, is considered as evincing the
apathy of their character,) addressed
him in French,a language not unfrequent-
ly partially known 10 the people in that
neighborhood He raised his heed point
ed to one Of his eyes with his fn-
ger, and gave me significant glance
with tho other. His face was covered
with blood, The fact was, that an hour
before this, as he was IN the act Of dis
charging an arrow at raccoon in the top
of a tree, the arrow had slipped upon the
cord, and sprung back with such violence
into bis right eye as to destroy it for
ever.
Feeling hungry. ! inquired what so IT
of fare might expect. Snch thing as
bed was not TO be seen, but many large
untanned bear and buffalo hides lay piled
IN a corner. drew a fine ,time-piece
from my breast, and told the woman
that il was late, and that was fatigued.
She had espied my watch, the richness
of which seemed TO operate upon her
feelings with electric quickness. She told
me that there was plenty ofvenisOn and
ierked buffalo meat, and that on removing
the ashes should fnda cake. But my
watch had struck her fancy, and her curl
osity must be gratifed by an immediate
sight oft. ! took-of the gold chain that
secured il from around my neck, and
presented il TO her. She was all ecstacy,
spoke of its beauty, asked me its value,
and put the chainround herbrawny neck,
saying how happy the possession Of such
a watch should make her. ThOughtless,
and, as fanced myself,in SO retired
spot, secure, paid little attention to
her talk or her movements. helped
my dog to d good supper Of f,vehisOn, and
was not longin satisfying the demands Of
my own appetite. re
The Indian rose from bis sect as il in
extreme suffering. He passed and re-
passed me several times,and once pihched
me on the side so violently that the pain
nearly brought forth an exclamation Of
anger. Hooked at him. His eye net
mine; but bis look was so forbidding that
i struck chill into the more nervous
part Of my system. He again seated
himself, drew butcher knife from its
greasy acsbbard, examined lis edge, as /
would do that Of d razor suspected dull,
lHEt-lf t-ff l.al. ts'ssr.