New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1852-04-15

sleeping person. Instantly the manner of tire
Two persons grew more alarming. Finally the
tan nag lifted up my pack, and weighed it in
her hand we'll as she was able. Her ewes
flashed Ike sefpents, for it contained a laree
quantity of specie, besides valuable jewelrg
and costly silks. l always made practice Of
putting my silver money in bag, and deposit
ing it in a corner Of said pack but nv bills
were placed in belt, which wore next to nv
person. round the body.
After she had done this, she motioned to him
to come and lift it, which he did, with apparent
ly as much satisfaction as his other half had
experienced
He then opened the door softly, and motioned
the dog to 60 out. Though have no doubt that
Lion understood pantomime as we'll as any body
he did not offer to stir, but lay at my feet as
quietly as ever. At last the old hag got impa-
ticnt, and shook the poker at him. Lion showed
two rows Of white teeth, and uttered a low
growl The pantomime ceased in an instant
The door was closed, and the poker returned to
its place | stirred a little. They were quick
to observe me.
"a fine dog" said the man, thinking it prob
able might hear the remark. 81 reckon he
wants to get out-he growis as though he did ~
a pause followed this remark He thought /
might order him out, but did no such thing.
Nieedog ," the woman added, after a moment.
" nice dog," and then she offered him piece
OF meat, and attempted to fondle him Contrary
to her expectation, he refused the meat, and put
an end to all familiarity by showing his teeth
again in very testy manner.
This was something strange for him never
knew him to refuse meat before, when it was
offered him Had Lion shared my suspicious !.
Had his instinct taught him that the hand out
stretched was not a friendly one:
By this last act of hostility on the part of my
dog, the hag appeared not a little Disconnected
She retreated almost behind my chair, and
shook her skinny fist at him; but he did rot
condescend to express any uneasiness at that
rather decided and energetic expression Of her
feelings.
now thought it time to wake up, which did
with a preliminary yawn or two. The same
apathy came back, and settled upon the fea-
lures fmy entertainers, that had before marked
their countenanccs. gave them to understand
that wish to retire. There were but two
apartments in the cabin; and they both left the
one was in, to make some arrangements in the
other for my accommodation. They were ab-
sent for some time, and was quite sure heard
them moving the bed to another part of the
room. They came out at length. and | was
told that my bed was ready. They watched my
movements with considerable interest when
arose to retire. started at first without pack
on purpose. The faces of the worthy pair lighted
up; returned and took it, they fell in a mo-
ment. This was not ALL passed in first, and
the woman attempted to shut the door on Lion
but the latter. putting forth his strength sprang
after me in an instant, almost upsetting the hag
in the operation. 4
g thought the cretur would Ike to stay by
the fire., said she, by way Of apology.
''Call the var,nint ont-'taint likely the gem
tleman wants to sleep in the room with a BEAST
added my host in way that expressed great
deal of Christian anxiety for my welfare.
6 prefer to have him with me- ] replied
g He won't eat the quarter of meat in there,
Will hep
'' Oh, no. l answered: you are quite right,
he never takes any thing that is not his
Saying this, wished them q good night, and
closed the door.
They had provided me with dim tallow can
die, and the first thing did, was 10 examine
every thing in the room. Twas pretty well
numbered up. Various kinds of vegetab bles oc-
cupied different corners, among which were
pumpkins. potatoes, melons, etc, etc, torether
with quarter of venson, some jerked beef.
and skins of animals. The bed next passed I'M
der my inspection 1t was poor concern the
frame being made of round poles, in the same
state that they were taken from the wood, and
the clothing upon it was coarse enough for a
hermit. But what struck me as being n little
singular, was that the head of the bed was
turned towards the partition separating the two
rooms, and right opposite the pillow was wide
crack. which had the appearance of being left
by design.
l began to feel queer; but that is not lust the
word to express what l mean. | had large
sums of money about me, enough to tempt the
cupidity of my entertainers at any rate, as their
actions had already convinced me- How easy
it would be for them to shoot me through the
crevice while slept. The idea got possession Of
me fully, and l could not drive it away.
would have fastened the door, but there was
nothing to fasten it with, and l wa. impressed
with the idea that the danger would not come
in that direction If it should, Lion was there
to apprise me of it. laid off nv coat. and bus
tied about as though l was undressing. put
my pistols under my pillow and laid down but
such an unaccountable and terrible sense of
evil pressed upon me, that l could not think of
Sleeping. Lion, too, appeared uneasy, came and
put his fore paws upon the bed every few min
utes, then went back to his post by the door,
and laid down in kind of feverish anxiety.
At last l feigned sleep, and snored most mu-
sically: but did not fail to look through tile
crevice to see what my host and hostess were do
ing. They laid down upon the bed which stood
in the room, without taking off their clothes
and were quiet enough until began to snore
then heard them whisper. What were my
sensations when l saw them arise softly; and
the man take gun from behind the bed
saw him, assisted by the hag, draw out charge
of shot which was in the gun, and reload it with
handful of slugs. l turned over heavily and
pretended to awake. My plan of action was ar
ranged in moment. had worn wig for sew
eral years, on account of losing my hair by a
fever. now determined to make it of more ust
than it had ever been before. l lifted myself
quietly from the bed, and felt about in the dark
until L had found one of the pumpkins l hat
seen. Over this drew my wig, and it happened
to he an excellent fit. Having dressed it in thi.
uncommon manner, lcrept back to my bed, anc
placed it upon the pillow in the exact position
my head had occupied. When it was thus ad-
justed, it was in iuxtaposition with the crevice
through which now took another look. Heav.
ems the fends were now loading a brace of pis.
| tolls, with the same internal slugs
can't say but felt little dry about the
throat just then. l looked towards old Lion
| could just discern his great eyes through the
darkness. He was still upon the alert The
persriration began to roll down my face in great
drops, not that | felt absolutely atraid-for |
fatter myselft that | am not a coward-but did
not like the idea of taking human life. I was
confident could defend myself vet even that
confidence was not enough to make me feel al
together comfortable.
Taking my pistols in my hands, l bent over
the bed, and commenced snoring agnin, at the
same time watching the movements of the man
and his amiable spouse. Every explosion from
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