i'^,;5"' ' "f 



230 



AUDUBON 



.11 



for pain, he would watch over us. You may suppose we 

 slept much less than we talked. The two strangers gave 

 me an account of their once having been themselves in a 

 somewhat similar situation. Day came, fair and rosy, and 

 with it the punishment of our captives. 



They were now quite sobered. Their feet were un- 

 bound, but their arms were still securely tied. We 

 marched them into the woods off the road, and having 

 used them as Regulators were wont to use such delin- 

 quents, we set fire to the cabin, gave all the skins and 

 implements to the young Indian warrior, and proceeded, 

 well pleased, towards the settlements. 



During upwards of twenty-five years, when my wander- 

 ings extended to all parts of our country, this was the only 

 time at which my life was in danger from my fellow-crea- 

 tures. Indeed, so little risk do travellers run in the United 

 States that no one born there ever dreams of any to be 

 encountered on the road; and I can only account for this 

 occurrence by supposing that the inhabitants of the cabin 

 were not Americans. 



Will you believe, good-natured reader, that not many 

 miles from the place where this adventure happened, and 

 where fifteen years ago, no habitation belonging to civil- 

 ized man was expected, and very few ever seen, large 

 roads are now laid out, cultivation has converted the woods 

 into fertile fields, taverns have been erected, and much of 

 what we Americans call comfort is to be met with? So 

 fast does improvement proceed in our abundant and free 

 country.^ 



1 This incident occurred during Audubon's return trip to St. Geneviive 

 in the early spring of 18 12. 



