when left alone?  Your imagination must supply an answer.  But we did not entirely gave way to despondency.  We were young and robust, and our spirits were not easily subdued.  Instead of becoming disheartened our approaching fate emboldened us, and by looks, whose expression made known our minds to each other, we resolved to effect our escape or be slain in striving for it.  Anything was preferable to the fiery torture which awaited us.  Our guard proved just the man we wanted, for, having during the evening indulged rather freely in drinking whiskey, he soon sank into a profound slumber.  Long and anxiously had we watched the man, and now our wishes were consummated.  I contrived with much exertion to draw my knife from my pocket, and commenced sawing at the tough thong which confined my wrist.  My heart beat high with joy, and already we felt that we were free, when the guard sneezed, opened his eyes, rolled them round the room, and discovered that he had been asleep.  I slipped the knife into my pocket without his notice, and he discovered nothing to rouse his suspicions, although he regarded us closely for a long time.  He finally sat down, lit his pipe and commenced smoking.  After puffing away for half an hour, which seemed to drag by with the tediousness of a week, he laid his tomahawk (which contains the pipe) by his side, and after nodding for some time he again stretched himself upon the rough floor, and soon his deep snoring fell upon our ears.  O! what music was that sound to us.  I again drew the knife from my pocket, and with desperation freed my hands, and in one minute more Ralph stood like myself a free man.  With the stealthy tread of a cat we reached the door, softly slid back the bolt, and once more we stood in the open air.  The rain had ceased, the clouds had swept by, and the full moon pale and high in the heavens threw her light upon the tree tops, bathing them in liquid silver.  Silently but rapidly we bounded through the forest, our fears of pursuit urging us onward; and by daylight were within twelve miles of the log cabin whose history I am telling.  At that time there dwelt in that cabin, with his family, a trapper by the name of Daniel Roe.  When we reached there we found Roe at home, to whom we recounted our adventure.  He only laughed at our fears that the Indians might track us thus far, and we finally listened to his laughing remarks and concluded to rest in his cabin for several days.  We heaped folly upon folly; for instead of putting the house in a state of defence, and preserving as much silence as possible we commenced trying our skill by shooting at a mark.  We continued this exercise through the afternoon, partook of a hearty supper, chatted till bed-time, and then retired.  Ralph soon fell sound asleep, but I could not; I felt a presentiment of approaching danger; still there was no visible signs of it, yet I could not shake off a peculiar nervousness which agitated me.  I lay still for some time listening to the deep and regular