270 AUDUBON 



erect, then on " all fours." He regularly led the way, 

 divided here and there the tangled stalks, and, whenever 

 we reached a fallen tree, assisted me in getting over It, 

 with all possible care. 1 saw that he was a perfect Indian 

 in his knowledge of the woods, for he kept a direct course 

 as precisely as any " Red-skin " I ever travelled with. All 

 of a sudden he emitted a loud shriek, not unlike that of an 

 Owl, which so surprised me, that I once more instantly 

 levelled my gun. " No harm, master, I only give notice 

 to my wife and children I am coming." A tremulous 

 answer of the same nature gently echoed through the tree 

 tops. The runaway's lips separated with an expression of 

 gentleness and delight, when his beautiful set of ivory 

 teeth seemed to smile through the dusk of evening that 

 was thickening around us. " Master," said he, " my 

 wife, though black, is as beautiful to me as the President's 

 wife is to him ; she is my queen, and I look on our young 

 ones as so many princes ; but you shall see them all, for 

 here they are, thank God." 



There, in the heart of the cane-brake, I found a regular 

 camp. A small fire was lighted, and on its embers lay 

 gridling some large slices of venison. A lad nine or ten 

 years old was blowing the ashes from some fine sweet 

 potatoes. Various articles of household furniture were 

 carefully disposed around, and a large pallet of Bear and 

 Deer skins, seemed to be the resting-place of the whole 

 family. The wife raised not her eyes towards mine, and 

 the little ones, three in number, retired into a corner, like 

 so many discomfited Raccoons ; but the Runaway, bold, 

 and apparently happy, spoke to them in such cheering 

 words, that at once one and all seemed to regard me as 

 one sent by Providence to relieve them from all their 

 troubles. My clothes were hung up by them to dry, and 

 the negro asked if he might clean and grease my gun, 

 which I permitted him to do, while the wife threw a large 

 piece of Deer's flesh to my dog, which the children were 

 already caressing. 



