340 



AUDUBON 





of my blood. My paddle dropped from my hands, and 

 fearfully indeed, as I picked it up, did I look towards the 

 unknown boat. On reaching it, I saw its sides marked 

 with stains of blood, and looking with anxiety over the 

 gunwale, I perceived, to my horror, two human bodies 

 covered with gore. Pirates or hostile Indians, I was per- 

 suaded, had perpetrated the foul deed, and my alarm nat- 

 urally increased ; my heart fluttered, stopped, and heaved 

 with unusual tremors, and I looked towards the setting 

 sun in consternation and despair. How long my reveries 

 lasted I cannot tell; I can only recollect that I was roused 

 from them by the distant groans of one apparently in mor- 

 tal agony. I felt as if refreshed by the cold perspiration 

 that oozed from every pore, and I reflected that though 

 alone, I was well armed, and might hope for the protec- 

 tion of the Almighty. 



" Humanity whispered to me that, if not surprised and 

 disabled, I might render assistance to some sufferer, or 

 even be the means of saving a useful life. Buoyed up by 

 this thought, I urged my canoe on shore, and seizing it by 

 the bow, pulled it at one spring high among the grass. 



" The groans of the unfortunate person fell heavy on my 

 ear as I cocked and reprimed my gun, and I felt deter- 

 mined to shoot the first that should rise from the grass. 

 As I cautiously proceeded, a hand was raised over the 

 weeds, and waved in the air in the most supplicating 

 manner. I levelled my gun about a foot below it, when 

 the next moment the head and breast of a man covered 

 with blood were convulsively raised, and a faint hoarse 

 voice asked me for mercy and help! A deathlike silence 

 followed his fall to the ground. I surveyed every object 

 around with eyes intent, and ears impressible by the 

 slightest sound, for my situation that moment I thought 

 as critical as any I had ever been in. The croaking of 

 the frogs, and the last Blackbirds alighting on their 

 roosts, were the only sounds or sights; and I now pro- 



