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 filled 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 guns, 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, rolled about, and began to snore: when 
I, having no other chance of freeing myself from the cords 
that fastened me, rolled 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. 
