y little to occupy my hands or thoughts--I saw half a dozen
red-skins approaching me at a rapid rate. To attempt to fly was
useless, and I knew that I could not hope to defend myself successfully;
so, though I did not like their looks, I saw that my only chance of
safety was to meet them in a friendly manner. Accordingly, I advanced
towards them. As I got nearer I saw that they were Pawnees, some of the
very tribe among whom Noggin was located, and three of whose people I
had lately killed; I may add also the greatest thieves in this part of
the country. Still I put the best face I could put on the matter, and
held out my hand in token of friendship.

"Instead of taking it, two of them seized me by the shoulders and
hurried me back to my hut. As soon as they entered they began to make
free with everything they saw, and it was very evident that they had
come to rob me of all they could get. When their eyes fell on poor
Blount's rifle, they asked me what had become of my companion. I made
signs to them that he was dead. They examined the hut for a few
minutes, and then seemed satisfied that I told them the truth. On
finding that I had a good store of provisions they made signs to me to
light a fire, and then forced me to cook enough provisions to satisfy
their not very moderate appetites. I knew that it was better to comply
with their commands than to refuse, and the less spirit I showed the
less likely they were to keep a strict watch over me. If they
considered that I was a brave fellow they would look upon me as a
greater prize, and treat me accordingly.

"After they had eaten as much as they could, they went hunting about the
spot in all directions till they came to the place where my canoe was
hid away. No sooner did they see it, than there was a great
consultation among them, and then they came back and sat round my fire
and talked away for an hour or more. The result of this conference was
anything but favourable to me. They had undoubtedly heard of the death
of their countrymen, and knowing the locality, and seeing the canoe,
they had come to the conclusion that the deed had been done by my hand
or by that of my late companion. This, doubtless, saved my life for the
present. If I had killed their friends, they wished to preserve me to
put me to death with the most refined of their tortures. That night
they slept in my hut. The next morning, having pulled the canoe to
pieces, and totally destroye