THE REDSKIN'S ESCAPE. 303 



on the ground ; exactly like a cat wlieii watching a 

 mouse. At intervals, he licked his lips ; undoubtedly he 

 had just finished a repast, and I divined his intention. 

 Having been eating fresh meat, probably he was not 

 hungry ; but he had resolved to keep me until the moment 

 his appetite revived ; and, as the Grislys are very partial 

 to human flesh, the droll rascal coolly waited until his 

 recruited dyspeptic powers would enable him to enjoy me 

 thoroughly ! 



" Was not this, as the Canadians say, an agreeable 

 position for a Christian ? 



" You cannot deny that mine was a truly critical 

 situation. I had read in the narrative of a missionary 

 that a Redskin had been kept all day in this fashion by a 

 Grisly, until, in the evening, overcome by fatigue, he fell 

 asleep. When he awoke, the Grisly had disappeared ! " 



" I remember the story," said I, interrupting Mr. 

 Jeffrey ; " and the Redskin had a lucky escape." 



" The Grisly," resumed the merchant, " is ferocious in 

 his organization and his habits ; but if he meets with a 

 prey when he is not an-himgered, ho often passes by it 

 without taking notice. At times he kills for the pleasure 

 of killing and the lust of carnage ; but frequently, 

 through indifference, he abstains from bloodshed, and con- 

 tinues his road. 



" The Redskins assert that the Grisly often waits until a 

 man is asleep, and detecting his first movement when he 

 awakes, pounces upon him. My opinion is, that the 

 Grisly who kept watch over the Indian was put to flight 

 by some noise, or sonic terrible object, during the sleep 



