JOHN JAMES AUDUBON. 177 



unfrequently partially known to the people of that 

 neighborhood. He raised his head, pointed to one 

 of his eyes with his finger, and gave me a signifi- 

 cant glance with the other; his face was covered 

 with blood. 



" The fact was, that an hour before this, as he 

 was in the act of discharging an arrow at a raccoon 

 in the top of a tree, the arrow had split upon the 

 cord, and sprung back with such violence into his 

 right eye as to destroy it forever. 



" Feeling hungry, I inquired what sort of fare I 

 might expect. Such a thing as a bed was not to 

 be seen; but many large, untanned buffalo hides 

 lay piled in a corner. I drew a time-piece from my 

 pocket, and told the woman that it was late, and 

 that I was fatigued. She espied my watch, the 

 richness of which seemed to operate on her feelings 

 with electric quickness. She told me there was 

 plenty of venison and jerked buffalo meat, and that 

 on removing the ashes I should find a cake. But 

 my watch had struck her fancy, and her curiosity 

 had to be gratified by an immediate sight of it. I 

 took off the gold chain which secured it around 

 my neck, and presented it to her. She was all 

 ecstasy, spoke of its beauty, asked me its value, 

 and put the chain round her brawny neck, 

 saying how happy the possession of such a 

 watch would make her. Thoughtless, and, as 

 I fancied myself, in so retired a spot, secure, I 

 paid little attention to her talk or her movements. 

 I helped my dog to a good supper of venison, and 



12 



