160 WILD SCENES AND WILD HUNTERS. 
eye, as to destroy it forever. “Feeling hungry,” Mr. Audu- 
bon continues his narrative, “I inquired what sort of fare I 
might expect. Such a thing as a bed was not to be seen, 
but many large untanned bear and buffalo hides lay piled up 
in a corner. I drew a fine time-piece from my vest, and told 
the woman that it was late, and that I was fatigued. She 
had espied my watch, the richness of which seemed to operate 
upon her feelings with electric quickness. She told me that 
there was plenty of venison and jerked buffalo meat, and that 
on removing the ashes I should find a cake. But my watch 
had struck her fancy, and her curiosity had to be gratified 
with a sight of it. I took off the gold chain that secured it, 
from around my neck, and presented it to her. She was all 
ecstacy, spoke of its beauty, asked me its value, put the chain 
around her brawny neck, saying how happy the possession of 
such a chain would make her. Thoughtless, and, as I fancied 
myself in so retired a spot, secure, I paid little attention to 
her talk or her movements. I helped my dog to a good 
supper of venison, and was not long in satisfying the demands 
of my own appetite. The Indian rose from his seat as if in 
extreme suffering. He pinched me on the side so violently, 
that the pain nearly brought forth an exclamation of anger, 
T looked at him. His eye met mine; but his look was so for- 
bidding that it struck a chill into the more nervous part of 
my system. He again seated himself, drew a butcher-knife 
from its greasy scabbard, examined its edge, as I would do 
that of a razor I suspected to be dull, replaced it, and again 
taking his tomahawk from his back, filled the pipe of it with 
tobacco, and sent me expressive glances whenever our hostess 
chanced to have her back toward us. Never till that moment 
had my senses been awakened to the danger which I now 
suspected to be about me. I returned glance for glance with 
my companion, and rested well assured that, whatever ene- 
mies I might have, he was not of the number.” 
In the meantime, he retired to rest upon the skins, when 
