END OF THE ' OLD MAN*S ' STORY. 153 



found it useless. The fire had burned up brighter, 

 and by its lurid glare I saw, as I returned, two 

 figures struggling. I hastened to the conflict ; but 

 it was too late. One of the savages had only 

 been stunned ; and, on regaining consciousness, had 

 had a fearful fight with the old man. The latter 

 lay dead, stabbed through the heart ; the former was 

 rapidly going to his last account. 



'A few months after I returned to the settle- 

 ments, and wandered about them reckless and 

 dispirited. Life ceased to have any attractions for 

 me ; and the merry voices of women and children 

 palled upon my ear. Again I sought the Indian 

 country ; to return, after a time, to civilisation. But 

 happiness was gone ; for I thought incessantly of the 

 one who was gone. 



1 The frost of the winter of life has grizzled my 

 head and beard. The season of my migration to 

 the other world is rapidly approaching. But when 

 the tune for that journey comes, if I knew that this 

 poor carcass would be laid under that hickory-tree 

 on the banks of muddy old Missouri, this " old man" 

 would be satisfied/ 



