The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1856-07-23

tries, is considered as evincing the apathy
of their character) 1 addressed him in
French, u language not unfrequently par
italy known to The people in that neigh
borhood. He raised his head, pointed to
one of his eye with his fiuger, and gave
me significant glance with the other.-
His face was. covered with blood. The
fact was, that an hour before this, rs he
was in the act of discharging an arrow at
II rsccoon in the top Of a tree, the arrow
split upon the cord, and sprang back with
such violence into his right eye as to Ges-
troy it forever.
Feeling hungry, | inquired what sort of
fare | was TO expect. Such thing as a
bed was not to be seen, but many large
untanned bear and buffalo hides lay piled
in a corner. / drew fine timc-pece
from my breast, and told the woman that
1t was late, and that was fatigued. She
had espied my watch, the richness Of
which seemed TO operate upon her feel
ings with electric quickness, She told me
there was plenty Of venison and jerked
buffalo meat, and that, on removing the
ashes, l should find cake But my
watch had struck her fancy, and her curl
osity had to be gratiiied by on immediate
sight of it. 1.'N "rsu-N sHE
took off the gold chain that secured
1t, from around my neck, and presented it
o her. She was all ecstacy, spoke of its
beauty, asked me its value, aud put the
chain around her brawny neck, saying
how happy the possession "fsuch watch
would make her. Though,lcss, aud, as
farcied myself in so retired spot, secure,
l paid little attention TO her talk or her
movements. helped my dog to good
supper of venison, and was not long in
satisfying the demands Of my own appe-
| titc
| The Indian rose from his seat, rs if in
extreme suffering. He passed and repas
sed me several times, and once pinched
me on the side so violently, that the pain
nearly brought forth an exclamation AN
ger. looked at him. His eve met mine !;
but his look was SO forbidding, that il
struck a chill into the more nervous par,
OF my system. He again seated himself.
drew his bu,cher-knite from his greasy
scabbard, examined is edge as would
do that of razor suspected TO he dull. re-
| placed II, and, again taking his tomahawk
FROM his back, filed the pipe of it with to-
bacco, and sent me expressive glances
whenever our hostess Glanced 10 have her
back towards us.
Never until that moment had my SEN
ses been awakened to the danger which
now suspected to be about me. | return.
ed glance for glance with my companion,
and became well assured that, whatever
enemies might have, he wis not OF their
number.
| asked tho woman for my watch,
wound it up, and under prelence of wish.
ing to see how the weather misht proba.
bly, be on the IN: rrow, took up my gun.
and walked out of tie cabin. / shipped n
ball into each barrel, scraped the cd gcs of
my tlihts, renewed the primings, returned
to the hut, and gave favorable account
Of my observation. took up a few bear
skins made pallet of them, aud, calling
my faithful dog to my side, lay down
with my gun close to my body, and in II
lew minutes was, TO all appearance, fas,
asleep.
\ short time had elapsed, when some
voices we've heard and, from the corner
OF my eyes, saw two athletic youths ma
king their entrance, bearing dead stag
on pole. They disposed OF their burden
and, asking for whiskey, helped them.
selves freely it. Observing me and the
wounded Indian, they asked who was,
and why that rascal (meaning the Indian,
who they knew understood not word CT
English) was in the house.
The mother (for SO she proved TO bc)
bade them speak less loudly, made men.
ton OF my watch, took them to corner,
where conversation took place, the pur.
port Of which IL required little shrewdncss
III me to guess. tapped my dog gently.
lie moved his tail, aud with indescribable
pleasure saw his fine ewes alternately fix.
el on me and raised towards the trio in
the corner. felt that he perceived the
danger of my situation. The Indian ex.
changed q glance with me. ~
| The lads had eaten and drunken them.
selves into such condition that already
looked upon them as hors de combat, and
the frequent visits of the whiskey bottle To
the ugly mouth Of their dam, / hoped,
would soon reduce her 10 like state
Judge of my astoDishment, when | saw
this ipcarnate fiend take u large carving
knife, and 60 to the grindstone to whel
its edge.
saw her pour thewater OH the turning
machine, and watched her working away
at the dangerous Instrument, until the
cold sweat covered every part Of my body
in spite Of my determination to defend
mys5lfto the fast. Her task finished, she
walked to her reeiiHg soas, aud said,
There, that'll soon settle him y She then
directed them to kill the Indian while she
despatched me.
turned, made ready my gun silently,
touched my faithful companion, and lay
ready to start up and shoot the first that
should attempt my life. The moment was
fast approaching, and that night might
have been my last, had not Providence
made preparations for my rescue. All
was ready. Thy old hag was advancing
slowly, probably contemplating the best