AUDUBON AND BOONE. 181 



shirt for •whatever they might think valuable, and, fortunately 

 for me, soon found my flask filled -with monongahela (that is, 

 reader, strong whisky). A terrific grin was exhibited on 

 their murderous countenances, while my heart throbbed with 

 joy at the anticipation of their intoxication. The crew imme- 

 diately began to beat their bellies and sing, as they passed 

 the bottle from mouth to mouth. How often did I wish the 

 flask ten times its size, and fiUed with aqua-fortis ! I ob- 

 served that the squaws drank more freely than the warriors, 

 and again my spirits were about to be depressed, when the 

 report of a gun was heard at a distance. The Indians all 

 jumped on their feet. The singing and drinking were both 

 brought to a stand, and I saw, with inexpressible joy, the 

 men walk off to some distance and talk to the squaws. I 

 knew that they were consulting about me, and I foresaw that 

 in a few moments the warriors would go to discover the cause 

 of the gun having been fired so near their camp. I expected 

 that the squaws would be left to guard me. Well, sir, it was 

 just so. They returned; the men took up their gtms, and 

 walked away. The squaws sat down again, and in less than 

 five minutes had my bottle up to their dirty mouths, gurgling 

 down their throats the remains of the whisky. 



'■"With what pleasure did I see them becoming more and 

 more drunk, until the liquor took such hold of them that it 

 was quite impossible for these women to be of any service. 

 They tumbled down, roUed about, and began to snore : when 

 I, having no other chance of freeing myself from the cords 

 that fastened me, roUed over and over towards the fire, and, 

 after a short time, burned them asunder. I rose on my feet, 

 stretched my stiffened sinews, snatched up my rifle, and, for 

 once in my life, spared that of Indians. I now recollect how 

 desirous I once or twice felt to lay open the skulls of the 

 •wretches •with my tomahawk ; but when I again thought upon 

 killing beings unprepared and unable to defend themselves, it 

 looked like murder without need, and I gave up the idea. 



