ow was in his garden. Mrs. Mayall then
told her that the Indian was near, and she must not show her head at the
window, or she might be taken for her husband. The minutes now seemed to
drag into hours, when that hungry cow was walking over the choice melons
and devouring them, and in a few moments more she was eating and
stamping down the corn which they had cultivated with care for their own
domestic use. But time wore away, and all was still, excepting the cow
in the garden. The sharp report of a gun was heard, and loud groans
followed, which seemed to shake everything within like a clap of
midnight thunder, and my brain seemed to reel, for deeds were going on I
dare not look upon.

Soon after, some one, whom I took to be Mayall, for I could see by the
light of the stars he had a gun in his hand, came and drove his cow out
of the garden. Mrs. Mayall then told me her husband would be back in the
course of an hour, and they would then be out of all danger; that her
husband was then near the house. Our fears seemed to vanish, and we
commenced talking and anticipating what had happened. Mrs. Mayall said
the report was from her husband's gun; that she knew the sound from all
other guns, and that, when in the hands of her husband, was sure death
against prowlers of the night, whether they walked on two feet or four.

She then said she knew their game. The Indian had let the cow into the
garden, expecting that her husband would come out, whilst he lay
secreted to kill him. She said Mayall never slept in his house when he
knew there were Indians watching for him, but always kept near enough to
protect his house and family. Whilst we were anticipating what had been
done in the dark, Mayall suddenly knocked three times on the door, then
paused and struck one. Mrs. Mayall, without farther hesitation, sprang
to the door and opened it. I said, "How dare you open that door?" She
replied that his knock was different from all other men; she said she
could tell by the day of the week, and no one knew the secret but
herself.

Mayall entered the house without saying a word, bolted the door after
him, laid down his gun, knife and tomahawk, and after telling me that I
could go home in the morning if I chose, there would be no danger, he
then laid down on his bed of straw, and was sound asleep in less than
five minutes; and when I left his cottage in the morning he was still
asleep. I took my little Nelly and returned to my cabin. Many s