84 THE PRAIRIE. 



my last in this world, had not Providence made preparations for my 

 rescue. All was ready. The infernal hag was advancing slowly, pro- 

 bably contemplating the best way of despatching me, whilst her sons 

 should be engaged with the Indian. I was several times on the eve of 

 rising, and shooting her on the spot : — but she was not to be punished 

 thus. The door was suddenly opened, and there entered two stout tra- 

 vellers, each with a long rifle on his shoulder. I bounced up on my feet, 

 and making them most heartily welcome, told them how well it was for 

 me that they should have arrived at that moment. The tale was told in 

 a minute. The drunken sons were secured, and the woman, in spite of 

 her defence and vociferations, shared the same fate. The Indian fairly 

 danced with joy, and gave us to understand that, as he could not sleep 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 vinbound, 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 wanderings extended 

 to all parts of our country, this was the only time at which my life was 

 in danger from my fellow creatures. 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 m.any miles from the 

 place where this adventure happened, and where fifteen years ago, no ha- 

 bitation belonging to civilized 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 improvemeiit proceed in our 

 abundant and free country. 



