Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1845-08-21
DANGERS OF THE PRAIRIES.


that portion of the United States, vary
the appearance Of the country. The
weather was fine. all around me was
as fresh and blooming as if i, had just
issued from the bosom Of nature. Nv
knapsack. my gun. and my dog. were
all | had for baggage and company.
But although well moccasined. | NOV.
ed slowly along. attracted by the brill
fancy of the flowers, and the gambols
of the fawns around their dams, 10 all
appearance as thoughtless of danger as
felt myself.
My march was of long duration;
| saw the sun sinking beneath the no
rizon long before could perceive any
appearance of woodland, and nothing
in the shape of man | had met with
that day. The track which followed
was only an Indian trace. and as dark
ness overshadowed the prairie. felt
some desire 10 reach at least a spot. in
which might lie down to rest. The
night hawks were skimmlng over
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 a, the skirts Of some woodland.
| did so. and almost at the same instant,
fire light attracted nv eve. | NOV
ed towards it, full of confidence that it
proceeded from The camp of some wan
dering Indians. | was mistaken. |
discovered by its glare, that it was
from the hearth Of small log cabin.
and tina, tall figure passed and repass
ed between il and me, as if busily en-
gagged in household arrangements.
| reached the spot, and presenting my
self at The door. asked the tall figure
which proved to be woman, if
nigh, take shelter under her roof for
the night. Her voice was rough, and
her attire negligen'ly thrown about
her. She answered in the affirmative.
| walked in, took wooden stool, and
quietly seated myself by the fire
The next object that attracted my at
,ention was finely formed Indian,
resting his head between his hands,
with his elbows on his knees. long
bow rested against the log wall near him
while quantity of arrows and two or
three rackoon skins lay a, his feet He
moved not; he apparently breaihed
not. Accustomed to thc 8 the
Indians. and knowing that the pay
little attention to the approach Of civil
lied strangers, circumstance which
in some countries is considered as
evincIng the apathy of their character.
addressed him IN French, language
not unfrequently partially known to
the people in tina. neighborhood. He
raised his head. pointed to one of his
eyes with his finger, and gave ne
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 oe discharging an
arrow at a rackoon in the top of tree.
the arrow had split upon the cord, and
sprung back with such violence into
his right eve as TO destroy il forever.
Feeling hungry, enquired what
sor! of fare | might expect Such a
thing as bed was not to be seen. but
many large, untanned bear and Buffalo
hides lay piled in corner. | drew
my watch from my breast, and told
the woman that i. was late and tina,
was fatigued. She espled my watch,
the richness of which seemed to ope-
rate upon her feelings, with electric
quickness. She told me that there
was pIen,y of venison and Buffalo
meat, and that on removing the ashes
should find a cake. But NY watch
had struck her fancy. and her curiosity
had to be gratfied b an immediate
sight of it. took off the gold chain
that secured it, from round my neck,
and handed it to her.
She was all ecs,acv, and spoke of its
beauty, asked me its value, and pu, the
chain round her neck. saying how
happy the possession of such watch
would make her. Thoughtless, and
as fancied myself in so retired spot,
secure, paid lille attention TO her
talk or movements. helped my dog
to good supper of venison, and was
not long in satisfying the demands Of
my own appetite.
The Indian rose from his seat, as If
in extreme suffering. He passed and
repassed me several times, and once
pinched me so violently on the side,
that The pain nearly brough, forth an
exclamation Of anger. looked a. him,
his eve met mine; but his look was so
forbidding that II struck chill in my
system. He again seated himself,
drew his butcher knife from lis greasy
scabbard, examinediis edge. as would
that Of razor suspected dull, re-
placed it, aud again taking his ,oma
hawk from his back, filed the pipe of
it with tobacco. and sent me expressive
glances whenever our hostess CHANGED
to have her back towards us.
Never ill tina, moment. had my sen.
ses been awakened TO the danger which
now suspected to be about me.
returned glancs for glance TO my com
panion, and rested well assured that,
whatever enemies | might have, he
was not Of their number.
asked the woman for my watch
wound it up, and under pretence OF
| wishing to see how the weather NIGH,
probably be on the morrow, took up
nv gun, and walked GU, of the csbin,