kill, took care to shoot just well enough to prove
himself a good marksman, without provoking their anger by excelling too
often.

After awhile, in his desire to win their confidence, he even went so far
as to signify to the Indians that he would like to become one of them;
that their mode of life suited him well, and he would be glad to hunt
and fish with them and be a pale-face no more. Alas! poor fellow, he did
not know what he was saying, or how soon he would find out that even in
cases of great temptation no one can tell a lie without suffering
unhappy consequences. The savages took him at his word. They held a
council. After it was over, while most of them were still smoking their
long, richly ornamented pipes with great deliberation, two or three of
the Indians seized him and gravely commenced plucking out his hair by
the roots.[2] Soon Tom twitched from head to foot, and water stood in
his eyes; but the red men still kept on with their work, dipping their
fingers in ashes occasionally to enable them to take a better hold.
Before long his head was completely bald, with the exception of one long
tuft upon his crown, called the scalp-lock. This was immediately
stiffened and plaited, so as to stand upright and hold a variety of
ornaments, which his glum hairdresser fastened upon it. Then two old
Indians pierced his nose and ears and hung big rings in the smarting
holes. They then took off his clothing and painted his body with every
variety of color. Next they hung a gaily embroidered cloth about his
loins, put a wampum[3] chain about his neck and fastened silver bands on
his right arm. When this was done the whole party gave three shrill
whoops, and men, women, and children crowded around him, making the most
frantic gestures, and uttering the most horrid sounds that ever a poor
fibbing white man heard.

Next the maidens of the tribe rushed upon him, and, hurrying him to a
stream that ran near by, dragged him into the water until it reached his
waist, and tried to force his head under. This of course, aroused all
his spirit of resistance; but, when one of the girls, named She-de-ah
(wild sage), cried into his ear. "No kill! no kill!" he concluded to
submit.

After this he was ducked and held under most unmercifully, until,
believing by this time that "the white blood must be all washed out of
him," they led him up the shore, all shivering and dripping, and
presented him to their principal chief.

The next perf