234 
WILD SCENES AND SONG-BIEDS. 
tliis scene, was that the very fellow whom I considered the 
most dangerous of the group — and who was the black-browed 
scoundrel that I have particularized — was the person who 
received in his own breast the ball which I suppose he had 
intended should strike the " river chicken-thief," as he had 
immediately endeavored to throw himself in the bottom of 
the boat. But the ball had been too swift for him ! 
We afterwards heard that this man was a horribly notori- 
ous boat-robber and murderer, and richly deserved his fate, 
for when this den was broken up, a month or two subse- 
quent, we ascertained that they had sent ofT for help and 
guns, and stealing the boat was the preliminary movement 
to an attempt to fire and storm the cabin and murder us in 
order to get possession of the boxes of specie, as they con- 
sidered those unlucky cherry-wood cases of surveying in- 
struments which our Yankee was engaged in peddling about 
the West, and which had so aroused their cupidity. 
We got across next morning, of course, for the sons of my 
friend having heard the boat stop during the night, were on 
the alert, and taking my rifle-shot for a signal, were soon 
across in a boat to our rescue. 
We left Yankee blubbering on the bank — for he had now 
slept off his stupefaction — ^but as there was a steamboat in 
sight, we thought ourselves justified in leaving him to his 
terrors for awhile. He deserved the lesson ; and yet, as we 
moved off, the meek Song Thrush sang as sweet a song from 
out the dark shadows of that old wood, as if murder had 
never prowled there ! 
