him no
ill-will, and if it had occurred to me at the time, I would have allowed
him to pass me, since I was unable to gain the race at any rate.

"`Dog!' he said at length, stepping forward and confronting me, `will
you wrestle?'

"Just as he approached I had turned round to leave the place. Not
wishing to have more to do with him, I pretended not to hear, and made a
step or two towards the lodges. `Dog!' he cried again, while his eyes
flashed fiercely, and he grasped me by the arm, `will you wrestle, or
are you afraid? Has the brave boy's heart changed into that of a girl?'

"`No, Misconna,' said I. `You _know_ that I am not afraid; but I have
no desire to quarrel with you.'

"`You lie!' cried he, with a cold sneer,--`you are afraid; and see,' he
added, pointing towards the women with a triumphant smile, `the
dark-eyed girl sees it and believes it too!'

"I turned to look, and there I saw Wabisca gazing on me with a look of
blank amazement. I could see, also, that several of the other women,
and some of my companions, shared in her surprise.

"With a burst of anger I turned round. `No, Misconna,' said I, `I am
_not_ afraid, as you shall find;' and springing upon him, I grasped him
round the body. He was nearly, if not quite, as strong a youth as
myself; but I was burning with indignation at the insolence of his
conduct before so many of the women,--which gave me more than usual
energy. For several minutes we swayed to and fro, each endeavouring in
vain to bend the other's back; but we were too well matched for this,
and sought to accomplish our purpose by taking advantage of an unguarded
movement. At last such a movement occurred. My adversary made a sudden
and violent attempt to throw me to the left, hoping that an inequality
in the ground would favour his effort. But he was mistaken. I had seen
the danger, and was prepared for it, so that the instant he attempted it
I threw forward my right leg, and thrust him backwards with all my
might. Misconna was quick in his motions. He saw my intention--too
late, indeed, to prevent it altogether, but in time to throw back his
left foot and stiffen his body till it felt like a block of stone. The
effort was now entirely one of endurance. We stood, each with his
muscles strained to the utmost, without the slightest motion. At length
I felt my adversary give way a little. Slight though the motion was, it
instantly removed all doubt as to who should go down