was very glad I had done so. Once the thought came
into my mind that, should the sentry at last go to sleep, I might kill
all the Indians with my axe before they could awake. I remembered a
story I had heard of a white woman who had been made prisoner thus
killing all her captors while sleeping, and ultimately escaping; but I
put the idea from me as a temptation of Satan, and felt more happy when
I had done so. They had unjustly made me captive, it is true, but they
were only following the instincts of their savage nature; and it would
be a dreadful thing to think of afterwards, should I deprive them of
life.

As the sentry kept his post, and presently brought some more wood, which
he threw on the embers, I felt sure that he was not likely to neglect
his duty; therefore, closing my eyes, I again went off to sleep. When I
next awoke the Indians were yawning and stretching themselves. One got
up, and then another, and I saw that day had broken.

I sprang to my feet, and the idea came into my head to pretend that I
was not aware I was their captive; so, putting out my hand, I signified
that I would wish them a good morning and take my way homewards. They
shook their heads--laughing, however, as if they thought the idea a good
joke; and two of them walking on either side of me, we set off in the
same order as before.

We travelled on all day, till, leaving the hilly country and crossing
several streams, we saw the wide prairie stretching out before us,
beyond some thick clumps of trees. Towards one of these clumps the
Indians advanced, when I heard the neigh of a horse. In a few minutes
we saw a couple of Indians, who had charge of several steeds tethered
among the trees. A few words were exchanged between my captors and
them, after which they immediately set to work to build a lean-to and
light a fire. From this I knew that they were going to pass the night
in the wood. Again the hope rose in my breast that I might have a
chance of escaping, but I tried to put on as unconcerned an air as
possible.

The Indians we had found in the wood exhibited the carcass of a deer,
which they had, I supposed, killed during the day. This was quickly cut
up in large pieces, and placed before, the fire to roast.

"I only hope, my friends, that you will gorge yourselves till you are
unable to move," I thought. "Then, if I can but get on the back of one
of those horses, I will gallop off to the hills, and not let you see my