The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1857-03-18
A Perilous Situation

On my return from the upper MISSISSIPPI,
found myself obliged to cross one of the wile
prairies, which in that portion of the U. State:
vary the appearance ofthe country. The wealth
er was fine; all around me was fresh and bloom
ing as if it had just issued from the bosom 0
nature. Ny knapsack, my gun and my dog were
all had for baggage or company. The track
which I followed were an old Indian track; ane
as darkness overshadowed the prairies, | fel
some desire that might reach at least copse
in which I might lie down to rest.
The night hawks were skmming over anc
around me, attracted by the buzzing wings O
the beetles, which form their food, and the dis
tant howl of wolves gave me some hope that
should soon arrive at the skirt of some wood
land. | did so; and almost at the same instant
freight attracted my eye I moved to-
ward it, full Of confidence that il proceeded
from some wandering Indians. I was mistak
en-; l discovered from its glare that it was from
the hearth of small cabin and that a tall fig
ure passed and repassed between it and me, as
if busily engaged in household arrangements
reached the spot and presenting myself at
the door, asked a tall figure, which proved tc
be woman, if | might take shelter under he,
her attire thrown negligently about her. She
answered in the affirmative. walked in, took
stool, and quietly seated myself by the fire
The next object that attracted my attention was
a finely formed young Indian, resting his head
between his hands, with elbows on his knees
A long bow rested against the log wall neal
him, while quantity of arrows and two or
three raccoon skins lay at his feet. Hemoyed
not; he apparently breathed not.
Accustomed to the habits the Indians, and
knowing that they pay little attention to the ap-
proach of civilised strangers. a circumstance
which in some countries is considered as evinc
ing the apathy of their character, | addressed
him in French, a language not unfrequently
partially known to the people of this neighbor-
hood He raised his head, pointed to one o
his eyes with his finger, and gave me signi6
cant glance with the other. His face was GOV.
cred with blood. The fact was that an houl
before this, as he was in the act of discharging
an arrow at raccoon in the top of a tree, the
arrow split upon the cord and sprany back with
such violence into his right eye, as to destroy il
forever.
Feeling hungry, Inquired what kind of fare
[ was to expect. Such a thing AS d bed was
not to be seen, but many large untanned beal
and buffalo hides lay piled up in corner.
drew fine time piece from my breast, and told
fatgued. She had espied my watch, the rich
ness 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, | should find
a.cake But my watch had struck her fancy
and her curiosity had to be gratfed by an i'm
mediate sight of it.
l took off the gold chain that secured it from
around my neck, and presented it to her. She
was ali ecstacy and spoke of its beauty, asked
me its value, and put the chain around her neck,
saying how happy the possession ofsuch watch
would make her. Thoughtless, and, as fan
cied myself in so retired spot secure, paid
very little attention to her talk or her move
ments, helped my dog to good supper o
venison, and was not long in satisfying the de
mands of my own appetite.
The Indian rose from his feet as fin extreme
suffering. He passed and repassed me severa
times, and once pinched me on the side so VIC
lently that the pain brought forth an exclama
ton OF anger. looked at him. His eye mel
mine; but his look was so forbidding that il
struck a chill into the more nervous part of my
system. He again seated himself, drew his
butcher knife from it's greasy scabbard, exam
ined its edge as l would do that of razor sus-
peced dull and, again taking his tomahawk
from his back, filled the back of it with tobac-
CO, and sent me expressive glances whenever
our hostess chanced to have her back toward US
Never till that moment had my senses been
awakened to the danger which l now suspect
glance with my companion, and became well as
sured 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 might probably be on the morrow,
took up my gun and walked out of the cabin
| slipped a ball into each barrel, scraped the
edges of my flint, renewed the printing. return
ed to the hut, and gave a favorable account o:
my observations. | took up few bear skins,
made pallet of them. and calling my faithful
dog to my side, lay down with my gun close to
my body, and in few minutes was to all ap-
pearances fast asleep.
A short time elapsed when some voices were
nedTu, anu lIoul liie CoIIeis VI my eyes Sd"
two athletic youths making their entrance, bear
ing a dead stag on pole. They disposed o!
their burden, and asking for whiskey, helped
themselves freely to it, Observing me and the
wounded Indian, they asked who | was, and
why that rascal (meaning the Indian, whom
they knew understood not word of English, }
was in the house.
The mother (for so she proved to be, bade
them speak less loud made mention of my watch
and took them to corner, where conversa-
ton took place, the purport of which required
little shrewdness in me TO guess. | tapped my
dog gently, He moved his tail, and with indie
scribable pleasure I saw his fine eyes alter
nately fixed on me and raised toward the trio in
the corner. felt that he perceived the dan
gers OF my situation. The Indian exchanged
a glance with me.
The lads had eaten and drunken themselves
into such condition that | already looked
upon them as hors du combat, and the frequent
visits of the whiskey bottle to the ugly mouth
of their dame, | hoped would soon reduce her
toYthe same state. Judge of my astonishment
when saw this incarnate fend take large
carving knife and go to the grindstone to whet
its edge. ya -s r... ........ ................
! saw her pour water on the turning ma
L i l.