OUR STRATAGEM. 67 



endowed with various riches, while to me he has 

 given the hnfFalo alone. Why should you visit this 

 country to destroy the only good thing I possess, 

 simply for your own pleasure ? Since, however, I feel 

 sure that you are great, generous, and good, I give 

 you my permission to go where you will, and hunt as 

 much as you desire, and when you enter my lodge you 

 shall be welcome." 



With this conclusion he sat down and resumed 

 the pipe, awaiting our answer. He had put the 

 case so truly and forcibly, that we really felt almost 

 ashamed of ourselves, and should have found some 

 difficulty in replying, had he not ended his speech 

 so graciously. As it was, we merely thanked him for 

 his courtesy, and made him and his companions what 

 we considered a very handsome present of knives, 

 ammunition, tea, salt, and tobacco. They did not 

 seem satisfied, and wanted a gun, blankets, and above 

 all, rum. These we refused, and at length they took 

 their departure, apparently in good humour, although 

 they intimated that they doubted whether we were 

 such very great people, after all, since we had no rum. 

 As they went out they viewed our horses with evident 

 admiration, and La Eonde became very uneasy, assuring 

 us that they were displeased with their reception, and 

 would certainly follow our trail and attempt to carry 

 them off. We accordingly took measures to evade 

 their pursuit, and save our property. Moving forward 

 three or four miles, we encamped close to the river, as 

 if about to cross, and kept watch during the night. 

 No alarm occurred, and the following morning we 



¥ 2 



