Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1858-12-02
THE, PRAIRIE Log CABIN. b
BY JOHN J. AuDCnuN, THE NATURALIST,

#E
ton Of the United States, vary the appear
asee of the country. The weather was
fine, and all round me was as fresh and
blooming as if it had just issued from the
bosom Of nature. My hnspsack, my gun
and my dog we're all had for company.
But, although we'll moccasined, moved
slowly along, attracted by the brilliancy Of
the flowers, and the gam bols Of the fawns
around their DAMS to all appearance as
thoughtless Of danger. as ! felt myself.
Ny march was Of long duration saw
the sun sinking below the horizon long he.
fore ! could gee any appearance Of wood
land, and nothing iu the shape Of man
had l met with that day. The track which
l followed was ,oaly an old Indian trace.
and as darkness overs hadowed the prairie
felt some desire 10 reach at least q copse.
in which | might lie .down to rest. The
night hawks I, we're skimming over aud
around me. attracted by the buzzing wings
Of the beetles which foru their food, and
the distant bowling OF the wolves. gave
me some, hone that | should soon arrive al
the skirts OF some woodland. ..snzT sai
| did s., and almost at the same instant
a fre-Iight attracted my eye moved to-
wards it, full of contidenee that it PROCEED
ed from the camp OF some wandering Ind
ians. wa. mistaken: discovered by its
glare that it WAS from the hearth of a
small log cabin. and that tail figure pass
ed and re.passel between it and me, as if
busily engaged in household arrange,
ments.af4 4lu a.aaA g... a# Uais ta
| reached the spot, and presenting my
self at the door, asked the tall figure. which
pro-cd to be woman, if l might take a
shelter under tue roof for the night. Her
voice was gruH, and her attire negligeptly
thrown about her. She answered in the
affirmative. ! walked in, took a wooden
stool, and uietly seated myself by the fire
The next object that attracted my atten
tion was a finely formed young Indian,
resting his head between his hands, with
his elbows on bis knees. A long bow rest
ed 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. Accns-
toned to the habits Of the Indians, and
knowing that they pay little attention to
the approach of civilized strangers, Ia cir.
cum stance which in some countries is con.
sdersd sas evinclng the apathy of their
character,) addressed him in French. a
language not unfrequently partially known
to tie people in that neighborLood. He
raised his head, pointed to one of his eyes
with his finger, and gave me a significant
glance with the other. His face was GOV
cred with blood. The fact was, that an
hour before this. as he was in the act of
dischargine an arrow at raccoon in the
top OF tree, the arrow had split upon
the cord, and sprung back with such VIC.
lence into his right eye, as to destroy it
forever. ta .= ....-=s-.z ..,
Feeling hungry, | inquired what sort Of
fare might expect. Such thing as a
bed was not to be seen, but many large
untanned bear and buffalo hides lay piled
in corner. ] drew a fine timepieee from
my breast. and told the woman it was la te,
and that was fatigued. She had espied
my watch. the richness Of which seemed
to operate on her feelings with electric
auickness. She told me that there was
plenty of venison and jerhed buffalo meat.
and that on removing tLe ashes | should
find a cake. But my watch had struck
her fancy, and her curiosity had to be graf.
fled by an immediate sight of it. | took
off the gold chain that secured it from
around my neck, and presented it to her.
She was all ecstaey, spoke Of its beauty,
asked me its value, and put the chain
around her brawny neck, saying how hap
py the possession of such ! watch would
make her. Thoughtless, and, as tancird
myself. in so retire! spot, SECURE, paid
little attention 10 her talk or her move.
ments. | helped my dog to a 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 repass
ed me several times, and once pinched me
on he side so violently that the pain near.
ly brought forth an exclama alton of anger.
| looked at him. His eye met mine; but
his look was SO forbdhihg that it struck a
chill into the more nervous part of my sys
TEN. He again seated himself, drew his
butcher knif. from its greasy scabbard,
examined its edge, as, I would do that Of
razor suspected dull, replaced it, and
again taking his. tomahawk from his back,
filed the pipe Of i. with tobacco, and sent
me expressive glances whenever our host
ess Glanced TO Asve her back towards US.
Never until that moment had my senses
been awakened to the danger which | now
suspected to be about me. returned
glance for glance to my companion, and
rested we'll assured that. whatever enemies
| might have, he was not Of their num-
Der.