some time, and who was the most
hideous animal that I ever beheld in the shape of a woman, thrust a
straw into my eye, giving me most excruciating agony. I was so carried
away by rage and pain, that I saluted her with a kick in the stomach,
which laid her doubled up on the ground, expecting to be scalped for so
doing the next moment. On the contrary, the Indians laughed, while some
of the other women dragged her away.

At last the interpreter came, and from him we learnt that we had to run
the gauntlet, and that, as soon as we gained the large lodge where we
had been examined by the old Indians on the day previous, we were safe,
and that we must run for that as fast as we could. The Portuguese, who
was still as mad as ever, was then pushed on; he would not run, but
walked glorying in the blows, which showered down upon him like hail;
and, moreover, he prevented me from running for some time, till I got
past him. I had been cruelly punished, and was mad with pain, when I
perceived a tall, gaunt Indian waiting for me with a heavy club.
Careless of life or consequences, I rushed past him, and as I passed I
threw out my fist with such impetus, that, hitting him under the right
ear, he fell senseless, and it appears that he never rose again, for the
blow killed him; after which I at last gained the council-house, and was
soon afterwards followed by my companion, who was streaming with blood.
We were then led away, and tied by our necks to two stakes about twenty
yards apart, and there we remained for the night.

The Portuguese passed the night in singing; I passed it in silence and
prayer. I felt convinced that we were to die, and I feared that it
would be by fire or torture, for I had heard something of the manners
and customs of these Indians. I made my peace with God as well as a
poor sinner could, prayed for mercy through Jesus Christ, sighed my
adieu to Amy, and made up my mind to die.

Early the next morning the Indians brought fire-wood, and placed it in
bundles round the stakes, at a distance of about fourteen yards from the
centre. They then went to the Portuguese, tied his hands behind him,
and exchanged the rope by which he had been fastened for a much stronger
one, one end of which they fastened to his wrists behind him, and the
other to the stake. As they left me as I was before, it was plain that
the Portuguese was to suffer first. They then set fire to the piles of
wood which were round the stake, w