Regulator Law, 51 



in a minute. The drunken sons were secured, and the 

 woman, in spite of her defence and vociferations, shared 

 the same fate. The Indian fairly danced with joy, and 

 gave us to understand that, as he could not sleep for 

 pain, he would watch over us. You may suppose we 

 slept much less than we talked. The two strangers gave 

 me an account of their once having been themselves in a 

 similar* situation. Day came fair and rosy, and with it the 

 punishment of our captives. 



" They were quite sobered. Their feet were unbound, 

 but their arms were still securely tied. We marched 

 them into the woods off the road, and having used them 

 as Regulators were wont to use such delinquents, we set 

 fire to the cabin, gave all the skins and implements to the 

 young Indian warrior, and proceeded, well pleased, 

 towards the settlements." 



At the period at which this incident occurred 

 " Regulator Law " was the high tribunal in the Western 

 States. A savage and outcast population fringed the 

 settled territories, and among these the most dastardly 

 crimes were current. "Regulator Law" was admin- 

 istered by a body of American citizens, and was akin to 

 a Vigilance Committee in its self-assumed functions. 

 The punishment of felons, who could defy or were likely 

 to escape the law of the land, was the special duty of the 

 Regulators, and the name acquired a terrible significance 

 in the western wilds. Audubon relates that a notorious 

 freebooter, named Mason, frequented Wolf's Island in the 

 Mississippi, and with a gang of marauders played pirate 

 with impunity in that river. He stripped the laden 

 barges of all the valuables, stole horses, and proved him- 

 self to be beyond the reach of the law. A party of Reg- 

 ulators descended the river, but failed to find him. 

 Finally, he was shot through the ready wit of one man. 

 This Regulator met the ruffian in the forest, and, 



