68 AUDUBON THE NATURALIST. 
passed him as if in utter ignorance as to who ha 
was. Mason thus pursued his way at ease till, 
reaching at dusk his accustomed resort, the low- 
est part of a ravine, after hobbling his horse, he 
esconced himself in a hollow log for the night, 
He was observed all the while by the Regula- 
«r, who, marking the place and hut with his 
practiced eye, galloped off for assistance, and 
soun the criminal was surprised in his retreat. 
In desperation, he defended himself with such 
valour, that the armed band, finding it impossi- 
ble to secure their victim otherwise, at length 
struck him down with a rifle ball. His head, 
stuck on the broken branch of a tree, remained 
a monument of the affray. The followers of 
Mason, thus admonished by the fate of their 
leader, were not only intimidated from the com 
mission of equal crimes, but soon altogether dis: 
persed. 
