, 1860-01-06
33res8 4 Gtfhtttte.


~"N@ ~ ~
pEuILoUS SITUATION.
audubon gives, in his B" 0raiMologieal BIO
aruphu," tho following account Of situation
Of peril in which he was once placed-a posi-.
ton which, our readers will admit, was sulli.
cicutly exciting to affect tie nerves Of any
man:
On my return tiic says) from the Upper
Mississippi, found myself obliged to cross
one Of the wide prairies which, in that portion
Of the United States, vary the appearance Of
tile country. The weather was fine, and I'LL
around me was as fresh and blooming as if it
had just issued from the bosom Of Nature. Ny
knapsack, my gun aud my dog, wcro al l had
for baggage and company. The track which
l followed was only IN old 1udiau trail, and as
darkness overshadowed the prairie, I felt some
desire to reach at least copse, in which I
might Ii: down to rest The night-hawks
were skimmipg over and around Inc, attracted
By tue buzziug wings Of tho beetles which
formed their food, and tile distant lowling Of
wolves, gave nc some hope that should soon
arrive at the skirts Of q woodland.
did 60, and almost. ut the Eamc instant
firc-light attracting my eye. 1moyc2 towards
it full Of confidence that it proceeded from the
camp Of some wandering Indians. was mis-
taken. discovered by its glare that it was
from the hearth Of a small log cabin, and that
a tall figure passed and repacsed between it
and me, az if busliy engaged in household ar
ranEesnents-
1zeaclled tue spot, and presenting myself Mt
the door, asked the tall figure, which proved
to he a woman, if I might take shelter under
her roof for the night. Her voice was qrlltI,
and her a:tiro neg1igent>y thrown about her.
She answered in tie affirmative. l walked in,
tool; wooden stool, and quietly seated myself
BY the fire. The next object that attracted
my attention was a finely formed young IN
dian, resting Lis head between his hands, with
his elbows en- his Knees 4 long bow rested
against the log wall near him, while quantity
Of arrows and two or three Taccoon skins lay
at his feet. lie moved not-hc apparently
breathed Iot. Accustomed to the habits Of
tile indians, and knowing that they pay little
attention to the approach Of civilized strangers,
IL circumstance which, in some countries is
considered as cvincing the apathy Of their !
characterD addrcsse! him in French, lau-
guago net 1:n;req,cnty partially known to tue
PEOPLE i'll that neig glboEhood. lie raised his
head, pointed 10 one Of his eyes with lis fin
ger. and gave NC significant g..a,lco with the
other. Tie fact t:as, that IN hour Lciore this,
rs he WAS in tho act Of dischargipg an arrow
at q raecoon in tl,e top Of q tree. tho arrow had
split upuu The chord, aud sprung back with
such violence into his right eye as 70 Destroy
it forever
Feeling l'::rgry, 1 inquired what sort Of fare
could expect Such Il thing as Il he'd was
not to be seen, but many large untauned bear
and buffalo hides lay piled in a coruer. I
rev my time piece from my breast, and told
the woman that it. was late. aud that was "a
tisucd. She had enpied my watch, the rich
ness Of which seemed to operate on her feel
Jugs wit!. electric 4uickness- Sue 1old me
llat there was plenty Of yenison aud jcrked
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 graft
| fed by an immediate sight Of it. I took of
| the gold chain that secured it around my neck
and presented it to her. She was all ecstasy,
spoke Of its beauty, asked me its value, and
put tie chain around Eer bgawny neck, say
inS how happy the possession Of such ] watch
would make her. Thoughtless, and, as fin
c;e1, myself it. so quiet spot, secure, paid
little attention to her talk or movements. I
helped my dog to good supper or venson,
aud was not loEg in satisfying the demands Of
my own appetite. The Indian rose from lis
seat, Ms il in extreme Suffering. Hc passed
aud rcpassed mo several times, aud once
pinched me OIL the side so violently that tho
pl;u nearly brought forth M exclamation
anger. looked at him. His eyo met mine; #
but his look was SO torbiddiul; that it struck Il
chill into the more nervous part Of my system.
lie :,gain seated himself drew his butcher
knife from its greasy scabbard, examined its
allan I 5..r,t|1 ng1 a
| dull, replaced it, aal again taking his toma-
hawk from his back. filled tie pipe Of it with
| tobacco, and sent NE expressive glances when
ever our hostess CHANGED to haze licr back to-
wards us.
Never, un,ll that moment, had MY senses
tccn awakened TO tic danger wlicl. HOW sus-
| rected to be about INC. I returned glance for
glance to my companion, and rested well as
$slrcd that, whatever enemies might have, lie
was rot Of their Number.
! asked tic woman for my watch, wound it
Up, and under rretence Of wishing 10 see how
TIC weather nj Sht probably bc OIL tic morrow,
,onk up my gun aud walked out Of the Cabin.
slipped a ball ialto cacll burrc, scrapcd lhe
edges Of my i!ints, renewed the primings. and
| returning to the hut, gave a favorable account
| Of my observations. took few bear SKINS
male:: pallet Of them. and calling ny faithful
do. 10 my siuc, lay down. with my gun close
10 n}y body, and in Il few minutes was. to all
appearance, fast asleep.
4 short time had elapsed when some voices
were heard, and from the eorner Of MY eyes
saw two athletic youths making their entrance
hc;trin3 a stag "a Il pole. They tiisposc1 ot
their burden, and asking for whisky, helped
themselves firclyt to it. Observing ,nc AMI the
wounded Indian, they asked who was, and
why tllat, rascal. (mcaniuy the Indian, WHO,
they knew, understood not n word Of Englisll)
was in the honse.
The moti,cr-ior 50 she proved to le-bade
t!.c,n speak less loudly, made mention Of my
watch, and took them 10 4 corner, where 4
coay.rs"tion tcuk place, the purporr Of which
it required little shrcwduess III nc to guess
| tapped my dog gently. lie moved his tail
and with rdcscribable pleasure saw his fine
eyes alternately fixed on lnc, and raised to
wards til. trio III tile corner. felt That hi
perceived tho danger Of my SITUATION. Ths
Indian exchanged a last glance with me.
Tic lads l.:ld eaten aud drunk themselves in
to slcl, condition that / already looked OF
them rs AoEs da combat; and lhe frequent visit
Of the whisky bottle 10 the ugly mont. Of thei
dam, ! hoped would soon reduce her 10 I
| Ike state. Judge Of my aston5slamenf, read
| tFt "1lEu i EiiW tulS 4EElIualt IEuA lAhS
large caryi,4g-kLii ito aud 70 to the ;zindston
to wlaet its edge. saw ler pour the watc
on the turning maclinc, aud watched her work
iu. away with the dangerous instrument, urti
| the co'l sweat covered every part Of my body
in spite Of my determination to defend my
self to tile Inst. Her task finished, she wake
to her reeiips sons, and said, "There, tl,al'
settle him: Boys xii! you. and then IL
tho watci,.''
turned, turned mr. gu:,-1ocks silept'!
:. touched up my faithful companion, and h
d ready TO start up aud shoot the first wi,
might attempt my l;le Tho moment was fas
: approaching, aud that night might have bee
nly last iu this world, llal not Providene
nlade preparation Tor my resc,1c. all wa
ready.