160 WILD SCENES AND WILD HUNTERS. 



eye, as to destroy it forever. " Feeling hungry," Mr. Audu- 

 bon continues his narrative, " I inquired what sort of fare I 

 might expect. Such a thing as a bed was not to be seen, 

 but many large untanned bear and buffalo hides lay piled up 

 in a corner. I drew a fine time-piece from my vest, and told 

 the woman that it was late, and that I was fatigued. She 

 had espied my watch, the richness of which seemed to operate 

 upon her feelings with electric quickness. She told me that 

 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 

 with a sight of it. I took off the gold chain that secured it^ 

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

 ecstacy, spoke of its beauty, asked me its value, put the chain 

 around her brawny neck, saying how happy the possession of 

 such a chain 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 was not long in satisfying the demands 

 of my own appetite. The Indian rose from his scat as if in 

 extreme suffering. He pinched me on the side so violently, 

 that the pain nearly brought forth an exclamation of anger, 

 I looked at him. His eye met mine ; but his look was so for- 

 bidding that it struck a chill into the more nervous part of 

 my system. lie again seated himself, drew a butcher-knife 

 from its greasy scabbard, examined its edge, as I would do 

 that of a razor I suspected to be dull, replaced it, and again 

 taking his tomahawk from his back, filled the pipe of it with 

 tobacco, and sent me expressive glances whenever our hostess 

 chanced to have her back toward us. Never till that moment 

 had my senses been awakened to the danger which I now 

 suspected to be about me. I returned glance for glance with 

 my companion, and rested well assured that, whatever ene- 

 mies I might have, he was not of the number." 



In the meantime, he retired to rest upon the skins, when 



