for me! but there is no time to lose; I myself may become the victim, if I spare him."

6. With these words, he drew a pistol from his pocket, and, with a trembling hand, took aim at his faithful servant, turning his face away in agony as he fired; but his aim was too sure. The poor animal fell wounded, and, weltering in his blood, still endeavored to crawl toward his master, as if to tax him with ingratitude.

7. The merchant could not bear the sight; he spurred on his horse, with a heart full of sorrow, and lamented that he had taken a journey which had cost him so dear. Still, however, the money never entered his mind; he thought only of his poor dog, and tried to console himself with the reflection, that he had prevented a greater evil, by dispatching a mad animal, than he had suffered by his loss.

8. This opiate to his wounded spirit was ineffectual: "I am most unfortunate," said he to himself; "I would almost rather have lost my money than my dog." Saying this, he stretched out his hand to grasp his treasure. It was missing; no bag was to be found.

9. In an instant, he opened his eyes to his rashness and his folly. "Wretch that I am! I alone am to blame. I could not comprehend the admonition which my innocent and most faithful friend gave me, and I have sacrificed him for his zeal. He wished only to inform me of my mistake, and he has paid for his fidelity with his life."

10. He instantly turned his horse, and went off at full gallop to the place where he had stopped. He saw, with half-averted eyes, the scene where the tragedy was acted; he perceived the traces of blood as he proceeded; he was oppressed and distracted; but in vain did he look for his dog-he was not to be seen on the road.

11. At last, he arrived at the spot where he had alighted. But what were his sensations! His heart was ready to bleed; he cursed himself in the madness of despair. The poor dog, unable to follow his dear, but cruel master, had determined to consecrate his last moments to his service. He had crawled, all bloody as he was, to the forgotten bag, and, in the agonies of death, he lay watching beside it.

12. When he saw his master, he still testified his joy, by the wagging of his tail-he could do no more-he tried to rise, but his strength was gone. The vital tide was ebbing fast; even the caresses of his master could not prolong his life for a few

moments.

13. He stretched out his tongue to lick the hand that was now fondling him in the agonies of regret, as if to seal forgiveness for the deed that had deprived him of life. He then cast a look of kindness on his master, and closed his eyes forever.

LESSON XII.

Running for Life.

1. COLTER came to St. Louis* in May, 1810, in a small canoe, from the head waters of the Missouri, a distance of 3000 miles, which he traversed in 30 days. I saw him, on his arrival, and received from him an account of his adventures, after he had separated from Lewis and Clark's party; one of these, for its singularity, I shall relate.

2. On the arrival of the party at the head waters of the Missouri, Colter, observing an appearance of abundance of Beavert being there, got permission to remain and hunt for some time, which he did in company with a man of the name of Dixon, who had traversed the immense tract of country from St. Louis to the head waters of the Missouri alone.

8. Soon after, he separated from Dixon, and trapped in com pany with a hunter named Potts; and aware of the hostility of the Blackfoot Indians, one of whom had been killed by Lewis, they set their traps at night, and took them up early in the morning, remaining concealed during the day.

4. They were examining their traps early one morning, in a creek about six miles from that branch of the Missouri called Jefferson's Fork, and were ascending in a canoe, when they suddenly heard a great noise, resembling the trampling of ani-mals; but they could not ascertain the fact, as the high, perpendicular banks on each side of the river impeded their view.

5. Colter immediately pronounced it to be occasioned by Indians, and advised an instant retreat, but was accused of cowardice by Potts, who insisted that the noise was caused by buffaloes, and they proceeded on.

6. In a few minutes afterwards, their doubts were removed by a party of Indians making their appearance on both sides of the creek, to the amount of five or six hundred, who beckoned them to come ashore.

* St. Louis, a city in Missouri, situated on the Mississippi river.

Beaver, an amphibious animal, valuable for its fur, and remarkable for its ingenuity in constructing its lodges or habitations.

7. As retreat was now impossible, Colter turned the head of the canoe; and, at the moment of its touching, an Indian seized the rifle belonging to Potts; but Colter, who is a remarkably strong man, immediately retook it, and handed it to Potts, who remained in the canoe, and, on receiving it, pushed off into the river.

8. He had scarcely quitted the shore, when an arrow was shot at him, and he cried out, “Colter, I am wounded!" Colter remonstrated with him on the folly of attempting to escape, and urged him to come ashore. Instead of complying, he instantly levelled his rifle at the Indian, and shot him dead on the spot.

9. This conduct, situated as he was, may appear to have been an act of madness, but it was doubtless the effect of sudden but sound reasoning; for, if taken alive, he must have expected to be tortured to death, according to their custom. He was instantly pierced with arrows so numerous, that, to use Colter's words, "He was made a riddle of."

10. They now seized Colter, stripped him entirely naked, and began to consult on the manner in which he should be put to death. They were at first inclined to set him up as a mark to shoot at, but the chief interfered, and, seizing him by the shoulder, asked him if he could run fast.

11. Colter, who had been some time amongst the Keekatso or Crow Indians, had in a considerable degree acquired the Blackfoot language, and was also well acquainted with Indian customs; he knew that he had now to run for his life, with the dreadful odds of five or six hundred against him, and those, armed Indians; he therefore cunningly replied, that he was a very bad runner, although he was cor sidered by the hunters as remarkably swift.

12. The chief now commanded the party to remain stationary, and led Colter out on the prairie,* three or four hundred yards, and released him, bidding him to save himself if he could. At this instant the horrid war-whoopt sounded in the ears of poor Colter, who, urged with the hope of preserving his life, ran with a speed at which himself was surprised.

13. He proceeded towards the Jefferson Fork, having to traverse a plain, six miles in breadth, abounding with the prickly pear, on which he was every instant treading with his naked feet.

Pronounced, Prá re,—an extensive tract of land, mostly level, destitute of trees, and covered with tall coarse grass. They are numerous in the Western States and territories, and frequently extend farther than the eye

can see.

† War-hoop, the savage yell of war,

14. He ran nearly half way across the plain before he ventured to look over his shoulder, when he perceived that the Indians were very much scattered; and that he had gained ground to a considerable distance from the main body; but one Indian, who carried a spear, was much before all the rest, and not more than one hundred yards from him.

15. A faint gleam of hope now cheered the heart of Colter : he derived confidence from the belief that escape was within the bounds of possibility; but that confidence was nearly fatal to him; for he exerted himself to such a degree, that the blood gushed from his nostrils, and soon almost covered the fore part of his body.

16. He had now arrived within a mile of the River, when he distinctly heard the appalling sound of footsteps behind him, and every instant expected to feel the spear of his pursuer. Again he turned his head, and saw the savage not twenty yards from him.

17. Determined, if possible, to avoid the expected blow, he suddenly stopped-turned round-and spread out his arms. The Indian, surprised by the suddenness of the action, and perhaps by the bloody appearance of Colter, also attempted to stop-but, exhausted with running, he fell, whilst endeavoring to throw his spear, which stuck in the ground and broke.

18. Colter instantly snatched up the pointed part, with which he pinned him to the earth, and then continued his flight. The foremost of the Indians, arriving at the place, stopped till others came up to join them, when they set up a hideous yell.

19. Every moment of this time was improved by Colter; who, although fainting and exhausted, succeeded in gaining the skirting of the Cotton-tree wood, on the borders of the Fork, through which he ran, and plunged into the river.

20. Fortunately for him, a little below this place was an island, against the upper part of which a raft of drift timber had lodged. He dived under the raft, and after several efforts, got his head above water amongst the trunks of trees, covered over with smaller wood to the depth of several feet.

21. Scarcely had he secured himself, when the Indians arrived on the river, screeching and yelling like so many fiends.* They were frequently on the raft, during the day, and were seen through the chinks by Colter, who was congratulating himself on his escape, until the idea arose that they might set the raft on fire.

* Pronounced Feends,-evil spirits.

7. As retreat was now impossible, Colter turned the head of the canoe; and, at the moment of its touching, an Indian seized the rifle belonging to Potts; but Colter, who is a remarkably strong man, immediately retook it, and handed it to Potts, who remained in the canoe, and, on receiving it, pushed off into the river.

8. He had scarcely quitted the shore, when an arrow was shot at him, and he cried out, "Colter, I am wounded!" Colter remonstrated with him on the folly of attempting to escape, and urged him to come ashore. Instead of complying, he ins levelled his rifle at the Indian, and shot him dead on the 9. This conduct, situated as he was, may appear to an act of madness, but it was doubtless the effect of sound reasoning; for, if taken alive, he must have be tortured to death, according to t stantly pierced with arrows so nu words," He was made a riddle 10. They now seized Colt and began to consult on the to death. They were at fir to shoot at, but the chief i shoulder, asked him if he