Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-08-19
fanlilp Gi'rtle.
A PERILOUs SITUATION.
BY AUDUBON.

4 I'm my return from the upper M lSSisSlp-
Opi, found myself obliged to cross one
of the wild prairies, which in that portion
of the United States vary the appearance
Of the country. The weather was very
fine all around me was fresh and bloom
ing as if it had just issued from the bosom
of nature. My knapsack, my gun. and
my dog were all had for. baggage or
company. The track which ! followed
was an old Indian one; ard as darkness
overshadowed the prairies, felt some
desire to reach at last copse in which
| might lie down.
The night hawks were skimming over
and around me, attracted by the buzzing
wings of the beetles, which form their
food, and the distant howl of the wolves
gave me some hope that should soon ar
rive at the skirt Of some woodland. !
did so and almost at the same instant,
fire light attracted my eye. moved
towards it, full of confidence that it pro
ceeded from some wandering Indian
I was mistaken | discovered from its
glare that it was from the hearth Of a
small log cabin, and that tall figure
passed and repassed between it and me,
as if busily engaged in household arrange
ments.
| reached the spot and presenting my
self at the door, asked a tall figure, which
proved to be woman, if | might take
shelter under her roof for the night
Her voice was gruff, and her attire neg
ligently thrown about her. She answer
ed in the affirmative, | walked in, took a
stool, and quietly seated myself by the
FIRE. The next object that attracted my
attention, was finely formed young Ind
ian, resting his head between his elbows
upon his knees. A long bow rested
against the log wall near him, while a
quantity of arrows and two or three rae
coon skins lay at. his feet. He moved
not; he apparently breathed not.
Accustomed to the habit of the Indians
and knowing that they pay little atten-
ton to the approach of civilized countries
is considered as evincing the apathy Of
their character, addressed him in French
language, not unfrequently partially
known to the people in this neighborhood.
He raised his head, pointed to one Of his
eyes with his finger, and gave me sig
nifcant glace with the other His face
was covered with blood.
The fact was, that an hour before this,
as he was in the act of discharging an ar
row at raccoon in the top of tree the
arrow split upon the cord, and sprang
back with such violence into his eye as
to destroy it forever.
Feeling hungry, inquired what sort
of fare was to expect. Such thing as
bed Mas not to be seen, but many large
Unframed bear, and buffalo hides lay piled
up in corner. drew my time piece
from my breast. and told the woman it
was now late, and that I was very much
fatigued. She had espied my watch, the
richness of which seemed to operate on
her feelings with electric quickness. She
told me that there was plenty of venison
and ierked Buffalo meat, and that, on re.
moving 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.
/ took off the gold chain that secured
lie, from around my neck, and presented
| it to her. She was all in ecstacy, and
spoke of its beauty, and of its value, and
put the chain around her neck, saying
how happy the possession Of such a
watch would make her. Thoughtless, as
| I fancied myself in SO retired spot Sc
cure, I paid very 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
appetite.
The Indian rose from his seat as If in
extreme suffering. He passed and re-
passed me several times, and pinched me
on the side so violently that the pain
brought forth an exclamation of anger,
looked at him. His eye met ming but
his look was SO forbidding that it struck
chill into the more nervous part Of my
system. He again seated himself, drew
his butcher knife from bis greasy scab-
bard, examined its edge as | would that
of razor suspected dull, and again taking
his tomahawk from his back, filled the
beck of it with tobacco, and sent me ex-
pressive chances whenever our hostess
CHANGED to have her back toward us.
Never till that moment had my senses
been awakened to the danger which
now suspected to be around me- | re.
turned glance for glance with mg COM
panion, and became we'll assured that
whatever enemies / might have, he was
not one Of their number.
asked the woman for my watch.
| wound tup, and under pretence Of wish,
ing to see how the weather would be on
the morrow, took my gnn and walked out
of the cabin, slipped ball into each
barrel, scraping the edges of my flint re-
lnewed the priming, returned to the hut,
and gave favorable account of my OBJ
servation. | 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, in a few iaia-
utes was to all appearance, fast asleep.
A short time had elapsed, when some
voices were heard and from the corner
of my eyes saw two athletic yoatias max
ing their entrance, bearing a dead stag
on pole. They disposed Of their bur
den, and asking for whiskey, helped
themselves freely to it. Observing me
and the wounded Indian, they asked who
was, and why that rascal imeaning the
Indian, who they knew understood not a
word of English, was in the house.
The mother- for so she proved to be
babe them speak less loudly, made men
ton of my watch, and took them to a cor.
ners where Conversations took place. the