their guns were
returned, he could not forbear from uttering his surprise.

"They know not how to use the weapon," replied Sir Christopher, "and
it suits them not to carry loads not their own. Besides, I have
pledged our honors that the pieces shall not be used against them.
Methinks, moreover, were we inclined to play false, it were fruitless,
in view of their superior number."

Nothing of importance occurred during the couple of days longer their
journey lasted, and before it was completed, both the prisoners lost
all apprehension of violence. They were even permitted to shoot the
game which was started, and the Indians manifested no little pleasure
when the shots proved successful. They watched closely the loading of
the pieces and priming, and the manner in which the lock trigger was
raised, and sometimes took the guns into their own hands, and brought
them up to the shoulder, as they had seen the white men do, as if
desirous to be taught their use. Something also, in reference to the
subject, they said to the Knight, but he shook his head, and showed no
disposition to instruct them. An unlucky experiment made with the
piece of Sir Christopher, by one of the Taranteens, at length put an
end to their importunities.

The Indian took the gun, after he had seen it loaded by Sir
Christopher, and imitating his actions, discharged it at a bird
sitting on a bough, at no great distance.

He had failed to remark that the Knight placed the piece firmly
against his shoulder when it was fired, and ignorant of the propriety
of doing so, held it with a natural feeling of timidity at a little
distance from his body. The consequence was, that the recoil
prostrated the savage on his back, and the gun dropped from his hands,
while the fortunate bird seemed to deride the unskilful marksman, and
to challenge him to another trial, by paying no other heed than
hopping on another bough. His companions gathered round the fallen
savage, and two or three took hold of the white men, as if to prevent
escape; but when they saw no wound upon his person, nor expression of
pain in his face, (for the pride of the unfortunate warrior forbade
the betrayal of what he felt,) their words of sympathy and intentions
of revenge were converted into jeers and laughter. As for the unlucky
fellow himself, on rising from the ground, he retreated a little way
from the gun, and regarding it with a look, wherein awe and aversion
were combined, took care not to