234 WILD SCENES AND SONG-BIRDS. 



this scene, was that the very fellow whom I considered the 

 most dangerous of the group and who was the black-browed 

 scoundrel that I have particularized was the person who 

 received in his own breast the ball which I suppose he had 

 intended should strike the " river chicken-thief," as he had 

 immediately endeavored to throw himself in the bottom of 

 the boat. But the ball had been too swift for him ! 



We afterwards heard that this man was a horribly notori- 

 ous boat-robber and murderer, and richly deserved his fate, 

 for when this den was broken up, a month or two subse- 

 quent, we ascertained that they had sent off for help and 

 guns, and stealing the boat was the preliminary movement 

 to an attempt to fire and storm the cabin and murder us in 

 order to get possession of the boxes of specie, as they con- 

 sidered those unlucky cherry-wood cases of surveying in- 

 struments which our Yankee was engaged in peddling about 

 the West, and which had so aroused their cupidity. 



We got across next morning, of course, for the sons of my 

 friend having heard the boat stop during the night, were on 

 the alert, and taking my rifle-shot for a signal, were soon 

 across in a boat to our rescue. 



We left Yankee blubbering on the bank for he had now 

 slept off his stupefaction but as there was a steamboat in 

 sight, we thought ourselves justified in leaving him to his 

 terrors for awhile. He deserved the lesson ; and yet, as we 

 moved off, the meek Song Thrush sang as sweet a song from 

 out the dark shadows of that old wood, as if murder had 

 never prowled there ! 



