36 JOHN JAMES AUDUBON 

 the people, and here the two parted 

 company. Audubon purchased a fine 

 horse and started over the prairies on 

 his return trip to Hendersonville. 



On this journey he came near being 

 murdered by a woman and her two des- 

 perate sons who lived in a cabin on the 

 prairies, where the traveller put up for 

 the night. He has given a minute and 

 graphic account of this adventure in his 

 journal. 



The cupidity of the woman had been 

 aroused by the sight of Audubon' s gold 

 watch and chain. A wounded Indian, 

 who had also sought refuge in the shanty 

 had put Audubon upon his guard. It 

 was midnight, Audubon lay on some bear 

 skins in one corner of the room, feign- 

 ing sleep. He had previously slipped 

 out of the cabin and had loaded his 

 gun, which lay close at hand. Presently 

 he saw the woman sharpen a huge carv- 

 ing knife, and thrust it into the hand of 

 her drunken son, with the injunction to 



