WILD SWANS. 237 



for it, but before I could reach it I tumbled headlong 

 into the water. I arose in a hurry, puffing and blowing, 

 and as my garments were all wet, I became somewhat 

 desperate, and dashing further out, I seized the bird by 

 the neck and dragged it ashore, though not without re- 

 ceiving several severe blows from its uninjured wing. 



Shivering as I was, I could not help laughing at the 

 Indian, who was making very wry faces, and rubbing liis 

 shoulder vigorously. To my query of what ailed him, 

 he responded with a disgusted 2oach, and said: '' Him 

 kick heap dam;" and taking the offending weapon in his 

 hand he dashed it to the ground, with an emphatic im- 

 precation that sounded very much like swearing. 



When my pale-faced companion arrived on the scene 

 he decided that we should hasten homeward immediately, 

 for fear I might catch a cold from my drenching, and as 

 the proposition was agreeable, I acceded to it. Having 

 placed our trophies in the boat, we jumped in, and were 

 joined by the red man, as his arm was too sore to enable 

 him to paddle his own canoe. Tying his craft behind 

 ours, we hoisted sail, and in the course of haK an hour 

 reached my friend's ranch, but when I attempted to walk 

 to the house I found it a matter of difficulty, as my 

 clothes had frozen stiff. 



As soon as I entered, I threw off my garments, bath- 

 ed the body with cold water, and after a vigorous ap- 

 plication of a rough towel, wrapped myself in a heavy 

 blanket and retired to bed. I then took a generous 

 quantity of punch, after which I closed my eyes, and 

 slept soundly until daylight. When I awoke I felt as 

 comfortable, both mentally and physically, as if I had 

 met with no mishajD. The Indian had departed before I 

 arose, so that I could not tell how much he was injured, 

 but, judging from what the host told me, he must have 

 paid dearly for his desire to acquit himself creditably. 

 His arm was, it seems, very much swollen and discolored. 



