ime had elapsed, when some voices were heard; and from the
corner of my eyes I saw two athletic youths making their entrance,
bearing a dead stag on a pole. They disposed of their burden, and asking
for whisky, helped themselves freely to it. Observing me and the wounded
Indian, they asked who I was, and why the devil that rascal (meaning the
Indian, who, they knew, understood not a word of English) was in the
house. The mother--for so she proved to be--bade them speak less loudly,
made mention of my watch, and took them to a corner, where a
conversation took place, the purport of which it required little
shrewdness in me to guess. I tapped my dog gently. He moved his tail,
and with indescribable pleasure I saw his fine eyes alternately fixed on
me and raised toward the trio in the corner. I felt that he perceived
danger in my situation. The Indian exchanged a last glance with me.

The lads had eaten and drunk themselves into such condition that I
already looked upon them as _hors tie combat_; and the frequent visits
of the whisky bottle to the ugly mouth of their dam I hoped would soon
reduce her to a like state. Judge of my astonishment, reader, when I saw
this incarnate fiend take a large carving-knife and go to the grindstone
to whet its edge. I saw her pour the water on the turning machine, and
watched her working away with the dangerous instrument, until the cold
sweat covered every part of my body, in spite of my determination to
defend myself to the last. Her task finished, she walked to her reeling
sons, and said, "There, that'll soon settle him! Boys, kill yon--, and
then for the watch."

I turned, cocked my gunlocks silently, touched my faithful companion,
and lay ready to start up and shoot the first one who might attempt my
life. The moment was fast approaching, and that night might have been my
last in the world, had not Providence made preparations for my rescue.
All was ready. The infernal hag was advancing slowly, probably
contemplating the best way of dispatching me, while her sons should be
engaged with the Indian. I was several times on the point of rising and
shooting her on the spot;--but she was not to be punished thus. The door
was suddenly opened, and there entered two stout travelers, each with a
long rifle on his shoulder. I bounced up on my feet, and making them
most heartily welcome, told them how well it was for me that they should
have arrived at that moment. The tale was told in a minute.