262 The Tiger's Cave. [MARCH, 



We gave vent to a shriek of horror then for a few minutes there 

 was a dead and awful silence. When we were able to revert to our 

 own condition, I found Wharton lying insensible on the brink of the 

 precipice. We examined his wound, and found that he was torn dread- 

 fully. The Indians collected some herbs, the application of which stop- 

 ped the bleeding, and we then bound up the mangled limb. It was 

 now evening, and we were obliged to resolve upon passing the night 

 under the shelter of some cleft in the rocks. The Indians made a fire 

 to keep the wild beasts from our couch ; but no sleep visited my eyes. 

 I sat at Wharton's bed and listened to his deep breathings. It became 

 more and more hard and deep, and his hand grasped violently, as if 

 in convulsive movements. His consciousness had not returned, and in 

 this situation he passed the whole night. In the morning the Indians 

 proposed to bear our wounded friend back to the village we had left 

 the previous day. They plaited some strong branches together, and 

 formed a bridge to repass the gulf. It was a mournful procession. On 

 the way Wharton suddenly opened his eyes, but instantly closed them 

 again, and lay as immoveable as before. Towards evening we drew 

 near our destination ; and our Indian friends, when they saw our situa- 

 tion, expressed the deepest sympathy; but the whole tribe assembled 

 round us, and uttered piercing cries of grief, when they learnt poor Lin- 

 coln's fate. Yanna burst into tears ; and her brothers hastened away, 

 accompanied by some other Indians, in search of the body. I remained 

 with my wounded friend ; he still lay insensible to every thing around 

 him. Sleep at length overpowered me. Towards morning, a song of 

 lamentation and mourning aroused me it was from the Indians, who 

 were returning with Lincoln's body. Yanna was weeping beside it. 

 I hastened to meet them,, but was glad to turn back again, when my 

 eyes fell upon the torn and lifeless body of our young companion. The 

 Indians had laid him upon the tigers' skins, which they had strewed 

 with green boughs ; and they now bore him to the burial-place of their 

 tribe. Yanna sacrificed on his tomb the most beautiful ornament she 

 possessed her long black hair an offering upon the grave of him who, 

 it is possible, had first awakened the feelings of tenderness in her inno- 

 cent bosom. 



On the third day, as I sat at Wharton's bed, he suddenly moved ; he 

 raised his head, and opening his eyes, gazed fixedly upon a corner of 

 the room. His countenance changed in a most extraordinary manner ; 

 it was deadly pale, and seemed to be turning to marble. I saw that 

 the hand of death was upon him. <f All is over," he gasped out, while 

 his looks continued fixed upon the same spot ; " there it stands !'* and 

 he fell back and expired. 



