ALEXANDER WILSON. xc iii 



the Indian country. Governor Lewis, she said, came thither about 

 sunset, alone, and inquired if he could stay for the night ; and, 

 alighting, brought his saddle into the house. He was dressed in a 

 loose gown, white, stripped with blue. On being asked if he came 

 alone, he replied, that there were two servants behind, who would 

 soon be up. He called for some spirits, and drank a very little. 

 When the servants arrived, one of whom was a negro, he inquired 

 for his powder, saying he was sure he had some powder in a canister. 

 The servant gave no distinct reply, and Lewis, in the meanwhile, 

 walked backwards and forwards before the door, talking to himself. 

 Sometimes, she said, he seemed as if he were walking up to her, 

 and would suddenly wheel round, and walk back as fast as he 

 could. Supper being ready, he sat down, but had eaten only a few 

 mouthfuls, when he started up, speaking to himself in a violent 

 manner. At these times, she says, she observed his face to flush 

 as if it had come on him in a fit. He lighted his pipe, and, drawing 

 a chair to the door, sat down, saying to Mrs Grinder, in a kind tone 

 of voice, ' Madam, this is a very pleasant evening.' He smoked 

 for some time, but quitted his seat, and traversed the yard as 

 before. He again sat down to his pipe, seemed again composed, 

 and, casting his eyes wistfully towards the west, observed what a 

 sweet evening it was. Mrs Grinder was preparing a bed for him ; 

 but he said he would sleep on the floor, and desired the servants to 

 bring the bear skins and buffalo robe, which were immediately 

 spread out for him ; and, it being now dusk, the woman went off to 

 the kitchen, and the two men to the barn, which stands about two 

 hundred yards off. The kitchen is only a few paces from the room 

 where Lewis was ; and the woman, being considerably alarmed by 

 the behaviour of her guest, could not sleep, but listened to him 

 walking backwards and forwards, she thinks, for several hours, and 

 talking aloud, as she said, ' like a lawyer.' She then heard the 

 report of a pistol, and something fall heavily on the floor, and the 

 words, ' Lord ! ' Immediately afterwards she heard another 

 pistol ; and, in a few minutes, she heard him at her door, calling 

 out, ' Madam ! give me some water, and heal my wounds.' The 

 logs being open, and unplastered, she saw him stagger back, and 

 fall against a stump that stands between the kitchen and the room. 

 He crawled for some distance, raised himself by the side of a tree, 



