e feet were so wounded and
swollen that at length I could not walk. Old Wamegon on perceiving this
examined my feet, and took out a number of thorns and splinters. He
then gave me a pair of moccasins, which afforded me some relief.

"I now thought that I might perhaps escape. One night when my
companions were asleep I got up, and, snatching my gun, ran off with
noiseless steps in the direction from which we had come. I stopped to
prime my piece, intending to fight for my life, as I heard them all
scampering after me; but before I could pour the powder into the pan I
was overtaken and brought back. They did not in consequence, however,
offer me any violence, though I expected at least to be well beaten.

"The next day we reached a broad river which was too deep to wade
across. The old man took me on his shoulders and carried me over, the
water being high above his waist. As I knew that I should be unable to
recross it by myself, I almost gave up all hope of immediately escaping.

"It was not till now that I burst into tears; for, thinking that I
should never again see my father and mother or Ella, or my dear brother
Oliver, I felt very sad at heart.

"We still continued our journey westward. One afternoon the Indians
stopped at an earlier hour than usual in a wood. I saw them looking
about, when presently they found a large hollow log open at one end.
Into this they put their blankets and bottle and other articles. They
then made me crawl in, and closed up the end with logs so firmly that I
could not possibly break out. A few minutes only had passed after I had
been thus unpleasantly imprisoned, when from the perfect silence which
reigned around I was convinced that they had all gone away. Had it not
been that they had deposited their valuables with me in the log, I
should have supposed that they intended leaving me to die of starvation.
Though I first entertained this idea, I soon banished it, and after a
time fell asleep.

"When I awoke I was in perfect darkness, and no sounds reached my ears.
At last I heard the tramp of horses' hoofs. Immediately the idea
occurred to me that my father had set out on horseback and had traced me
thus far. I shouted out at the top of my voice, fearing that he might
pass the log, ignorant that I was shut up within it.

"Presently the pieces of wood which closed the entrance were removed,
and bitter was my disappointment to hear my captors' voices. Dawn was
already br