354 
A JOURNEY TO THE 
fatisfaction, and, as a mark of their approbation, 
each tent in rotation made a feaft, or entertain- 
ment, the fame night, and invited him to par- 
take; at the laft of which they had concerted a 
{cheme to murder him. He was, however, fo 
perfect a mafter of the Southern Indian language, 
that he foon difcovered their defign, and told 
them, he was not come in a hoftile manner, but 
if they attempted any thing of the kind he was 
determined to fell his life as dear as poffible. On 
hearing this, fome of them ordered that his fer- 
vant, gun, and fnow-fhoes, (for it was winter,) 
fhould be brought into the tent and fecured; 
but he fprung from his feat, feized his gun and 
fnow-fhoes, and went out of the tent, telling 
them, if they had an intention to moleft him, 
that was the proper place where he could fee his 
enemy, and be under no apprehenfions of being 
thot cowardly through the back. ‘‘I am fure 
‘¢ (faid he) of killing two or three of you, and if 
“¢ you chufe to purchafe my life at that price, 
“ now is the time; but if otherwife, let me de- 
“¢ part without any farther moleftation.””’ They 
then told him he was at liberty to go, on condi- 
tion of leaving his fervant ; but to this he would 
not confent. He then rufhed into the tent and 
took his fervant by force from two men; when 
finding there was no appearance of farther 
danger, he fet out on his return to the frontiers 
of his own country, and from thence to the | 
Factory. 
