226 AUDUBON 



and my dog were all I had for baggage and com- 

 pany. But, although well moccasined, I moved slowly 

 along, attracted by the brilliancy of the flowers, and the 

 gambols of the fawns around their dams, to all appearance 

 as thoughtless of danger as I felt myself 



My march was of long duration ; I saw the sun sinking 

 below the horizon long before I could perceive any 

 appearance of woodland, and nothing in the shape of 

 man had I met with that day. The track which I fol- 

 lowed was only an old Indian trace, and as darkness over- 

 shadowed the prairie I felt some desire to reach at least 

 a copse, in which I might lie down to rest. The Night 

 Hawks were skimming over and around me, attracted by 

 the buzzing wings of the beetles which form their food, 

 and the distant howling of wolves gave me some hope 

 that I should soon arrive at the skirts of some woodlands. 



I did so, and almost at the same instant, a firelight 

 attracting my eye, I moved towards it, full of confidence 

 that it proceeded from the camp of some wandering 

 Indians. I was mistaken : I discovered by its glare that 

 it was from the hearth of a small log cabin, and that a 

 tall figure passed and repassed between it and me, as if 

 busily engaged in household arrangements. 



I reached the spot, and presenting myself at the door, 

 asked the tall figure, which proved to be a woman, if I 

 might take shelter under her roof for the night. Her 

 voice was gruff, and her attire negligently thrown about 

 her. She answered in the affirmative. I walked in, took 

 a wooden stool, and quietly seated myself by the fire. 

 The next object that attracted my notice was a finely 

 formed young Indian, resting his head between his hands, 

 with his elbows on his knees. A long bow rested against 

 the log wall near him, while a quantity of arrows and two 

 or three Raccoon skins lay at his feet. He moved not; he 

 apparently breathed not. Accustomed to the habits of 

 Indians, and knowing that they pay little attention to the 



