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keeping it fast with my fingers, which had 

 still some life and strength, I slipped the 

 cord from my left arm over my elbow 

 and my wrist. One of the warriors now 

 got up and stirred the fire: I was appre- 

 hensive that I should be examined, and 

 thought it was over w T ith me ; but my hopes 

 revived when now he lay down again. I 

 then attempted to unloose the rope about 

 my neck, — tried to gnaw it, but in vain ; as 

 it was as thick as my thumb, and as hard 

 as iron, being made of a buffalo hide : I 

 wrought with it a long time, gave it out, 

 and could see no relief. At this time I saw 

 day break and heard the cock crow : I made 

 a second attempt, almost without hope, 

 pulling the rope by putting my fingers 

 between my neck and it, and to my great 

 surprise it came easily untied : it was a 

 noose with two or three knots tied over it. 

 iC I stept over the warriors as they lay; 

 and, having got out of the house, looked 

 back to see if there was any disturbance : 

 I then ran through the town into a corn- 



