Page 9 - Four Famous American Writers: Washington Irving, Edgar Allan Poe, James Russell Lowell, Bayard Taylor

explain their business, the Indian woman sat down beside Irving, and in her
half drunken way began to pay him great attention.

The husband, a tall, strapping Hercules of an Indian, sat scowling at them

with his blanket drawn up to his chin, and his face between his hands, while
his elbows rested on his knees.

But soon the Indian could no longer endure the flirtation his wife was
carrying on with Irving. He rushed upon him, calling him a "cursed

Yankee," and gave him a blow which stretched him on the floor.

While Irving was picking himself up and getting out of the way, his friend

went to the Indian and tried to quiet him. By this time the feelings of the
drunken redman had quite changed. He fell on the young man’s neck,

exchanged names with him after the Indian fashion, and declared that they
would be sworn friends and brothers as long as they lived.

Irving hastened to get into his boat, and he and his companion made off as
quickly as possible, having no wish for any further intercourse with

drunken Indians.

CHAPTER IV

IRVING GOES TO EUROPE

Irving’s health was by no means good, and his friends were so alarmed that

when he was twenty-one they planned a trip to Europe for him. As he
stepped on board the boat that was to take him, the captain eyed him from
head to foot and remarked to himself, "There’s a chap who will go

overboard before we get across."

To the surprise of the captain and other passengers, however, he did not
die, but got much better.