The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1845-10-21
WHOLE NO. a4s.aa
PRAIRIE DANGERS
BY AUDUBON.

United States, vary the appearance OF the
country. The weather was fine, all around
me was as fresh and blooming as if it had
Just issued from the bosom of nature. My
knapsack, my gun, and my dog, were alloI
had for baggage and company. But although
we'll moccasined, 1 moved slowly along, at
tracted by the brilliancy of the flowers, and
the gambols of the fawns around their dams,
to all appearance as thoughtless of danger as
felt myself. rg ,.8 G. t3,ea ma .9uso
My march was Of long duration; saw the
sun sinking beneath the horizon long before
could perceive any appearance of wood
land, and nothing in the shape of man hadl
met with that day., The track which l fol-
lowed was only an Indian track, and as
darkness overshadowed the prairie, i felt some
desire 10 reach at last spot in which might
lie down to rest. 4 The nightihawks were
skiEming over around me, attracted. by the
buzzng 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 woodland. ] did so,
and almost at the sane instant a fre-light
attracted my eye. / moved towards it full
of confidence that it proceeded from the camp
of some wandering Indians. Twas mistaken;
| soon discovered by the glare that it was
from the hearth ofa small log cabin, and that
a tall figure passed and repassed between it
and me, as if busily engaged in household
arrangements. reached the spot, and pre-
senting myself at the door, asked the tall
figure, which proved to be woman, if might
take shelter under her roof for the night
Her voice was rough, and her attire negli-
gently thrown about her. She answered in
the affirmative. walked in, took a wooden
stool, and quietly seated myself by the fire.
The next object that attracted my attention,
was finely formed young Indian, resting
his head between his hands, with his elbows,
on his knees. A long bow rested against the
log wall near him, while a quantity of arrows
and two or three raccoon skins lay at his
feet. He moved not; he apparently breathed
not. Accustomed to the habits ofthe Indians
and knowing that they pay little attention to
the approach of civilized strangers, a circum-
stance which in some coun tries is considered
as evncing the apathy of their character, !
addressed him in French, a language not
unfrequently partially known to the people in
that neighborhood. He raised his head,
pointed to one of his eyes with his finger,
and gave me significant glance with the
other. His face was covered with blood
The fact was, that an hour before this, as he
was in the act of dscharging an arrow at a
raccoon in the top of a tree, the arrow had
split upon the cord, and sprung back with
such violence into his right eye as to destroy
it forever. ...r ~ rs,
Feeling hungry,I inquired what sort of
fare might expect. Such thing as bed
was not to be seen, but many untanned bear
and buffalo hides lay piled in the coIner.-
drew my watch from my breast, and told
the woman that it 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 of venison and
buffalo meat, and that on removing the ashes
should find cake. But my watch had
struck her fancy, and her curiosity had to be
. gratifed by an immediate sight Of it. l
took off the gold chain that secured if from
!, around my neck, and handed it to her. II
. She was all ecstacy, spoke of its beauty;
:, asked me its value, and put the chain round
: her neck, saying how happy the possession
Z of such watch would make her, Thought
: less, and as fancied myself in SO retired a
spot secure, | paid little attention to her talk
or movements. helped my dog to good
supper of venison, and was not long in satisfy
ing the demands Of my own appetite. "a "a
The Indian rose from his seat, as if in OK
trcme suffering. He passed and repassed
me several times, and once pinched me so
violently on the side that the pain nearly
brought forth an exclamation of anger
: looked at him, his eye met mine, but his look
was so forbidding that it struck a chill in my
, system. He again seated himself, drew his
] butcher knife from its greasy sclbbard, ex-
amined its edge as would that of a razor
= suspected dull, replaced it and again taking
his tomahawk from his back, filled the pipe
! of it with tobacco, and sent me expressive
! glances whenever our hostess CHANGED to
! have her back towards us. yti9
: Never till that moment had my senses
: been awakened to the danger which I now
? suspected to be aboutme. Returned glance
for glance to my companion, and rested well
assured ithat,whateyer enemies might have
. he was not OF their number. rsE],l trsg
1,asked the woman for my w1tch, wound
= it up, and, under The pretence oflwishing TO
i see how the weather might probably be on
I the morrow, took up my gun and walked out
: ofthe cabin. Islipped ball into each barrel
.s scraped the eedgings Of my fints, renewed the
i prinings, and returning to the hut, gave ;
i favorable account Of my observations, ItooI
!, few deer SKINS, made bed of them, ant
! calling my faithful dog to my side, lay dow
with my gun close TO my side, and in. q fev
lN.Y sl,lpi