ned round in time to witness the expression
of horror on my countenance. He now hurried towards me, pointing at the
same time to the canoe, and exclaiming, rapidly, "Puarkee! puarkee!" (Pig,
pig.) I pretended to yield to the deception, and repeated the words after
him several times, as though acquiescing in what he said. The other
savages, either deceived by my conduct, or unwilling to manifest their
displeasure at what could not now be remedied, took no further notice of
the occurrence, and I immediately left the Ti.

All that night I lay awake, revolving in my mind the fearful situation in
which I was placed. The last horrid revelation had now been made, and the
full sense of my condition rushed upon my mind with a force I had never
before experienced.

Where, thought I, desponding, is there the slightest prospect of escape?
The only person who seemed to possess the ability to assist me was the
stranger, Marnoo; but would he ever return to the valley? and if he did,
should I be permitted to hold any communication with him? It seemed as if
I were cut off from every source of hope, and that nothing remained but
passively to await whatever fate was in store for me. A thousand times I
endeavoured to account for the mysterious conduct of the natives. For what
conceivable purpose did they thus retain me a captive? What could be their
object in treating me with such apparent kindness, and did it not cover
some treacherous scheme? Or, if they had no other design than to hold me a
prisoner, how should I be able to pass away my days in this narrow valley,
deprived of all intercourse with civilized beings, and for ever separated
from friends and home?

One only hope remained to me. The French could not long defer a visit to
the bay, and if they should permanently locate any of their troops in the
valley, the savages could not for any length of time conceal my existence
from them. But what reason had I to suppose that I should be spared until
such an event occurred--an event which might be postponed by a hundred
different contingencies?

CHAPTER XXXII

The stranger again arrives in the valley--Singular interview with
him--Attempt to escape--Failure--Melancholy situation--Sympathy of
Marheyo.

"Marnoo, Marnoo pemi!" Such were the welcome sounds which fell upon my ear
some ten days after the event related in the preceding chapter. Once more