24 1< RAVENS SHOT BY AN IROQUOIS. 



A party of men had arrived over night, and 

 amongst them an Iroquois, who, perceiving the 

 birds together, and being ignorant of my wishes, 

 could not resist the temptation of a double shot, 

 and so killed them both. In any other situation 

 such an event, would, perhaps have seemed too 

 trifling to be noticed ; but in our case, the ravens 

 were the only link between us and the dreary soli- 

 tude without, and their loss therefore was painfully 

 felt. Moreover, there seemed a sort of treachery 

 in the act, for the poor birds had been taught to 

 look upon us as friends : their petty thefts were 

 licensed ; and their sharp croaking was welcome, 

 as breaking the monotony of silence. When they 

 were gone, I felt more lonely, and the moaning 

 wind seemed as if complaining of the barbarity. 

 April 25th. — This was the anniversary of 

 our departure from La Chine. We were talking 

 for about the hundredth time of those kind 

 persons who had come so far to see us away, 

 and had begun to speculate on their different 

 occupations at that very hour, when we were 

 interrupted by a sharp and loud knock at the 

 door. The permission to come in was unne- 

 cessary, for the person followed the announce- 

 ment before the words could be uttered, and 

 with the same despatch thrust into my hands a 

 packet, which a glance sufficed to tell me was 

 from England. " He is returned, sir !" said the 



