SIMPLICITY OF THE BACKWOODSMEN. 297 



" "We took the arms and dresses of the slain, bound 

 them on the horses, left the corpses to the wolves and 

 vultures, and entered the settlement in triumph the 

 same evening. It was long before we saw any thing 

 more of the Tuskaroras, who withdrew in alarm towards 

 Lake Ontario." 



By this time dinner was ready, and after dinner we 

 took a siesta; then, what with reading and conversa- 

 tion, it was evening before we were aware. I was now 

 asked to give information about the old world, and to 

 tell them whether kings would take off people's heads 

 when they chose — and how houses were built when 

 there was so little wood — and what people did in the 

 winter. They were much astonished when I mentioned 

 that we did not grow Indian corn, nor let the cattle run 

 wild ; but when I said that we sometimes planted trees, 

 the children shook their heads, and even the old ones 

 thought that I was practising on their credulity ; they 

 also wanted to know if kings and queens always wore 

 their crowns, and if they walked about with their scep- 

 tres, and what the nobility looked like. 



Next morning, starting with the rising sun, we took 

 a direction towards the Richland and War-eagle, two 

 streams which flow into the White river. We took 

 no provisions with us, but rode out with only the 

 blankets on the horses, as Conwell supposed we should 

 find plenty of game. On arriving on our ground, we 

 turned the horses loose, who bent their steps home- 

 wards, grazing as they went. We took different 

 courses, agreeing to return in the evening to the place 

 where our blankets were hanging up. I walked cau- 

 tiously and slowly, but saw nothmg of either deer or 



