Sketches From Oldest America 



if death would only come, what a relief it would 

 be. It seemed a terribly long time that he sat there 

 in the darkness with his head bowed on his breast. 



At last he heard a noise; what could it mean ? 

 He knew that none of the villagers would return for 

 a long time. It must be one of those hallucinations 

 that hunger and thirst often create. Then the 

 noise came nearer, and a little woman coming up 

 through the floor asked him why he was there and 

 what made him so sad. He soon told the story of 

 how he had been left to starve to death and how he 

 was suffering for food and water. If he could only 

 get a drink from the spring near by, how it would 

 relieve the terrible parched condition of his mouth 

 and throat! Water, oh, if he only had some water! 



"Never mind," said the little woman, " you shall 

 not starve to death," and she placed by his side 

 some nice pieces of whale meat and black skin, 

 with a pailful of clear cold water. How Allugua 

 did enjoy the water, and then the whale meat and 

 black skin! He had never in all his life tasted any- 

 thing half so good. Every day the little woman 

 brought a fresh supply of meat and water; she 

 knew just what to choose so that he would gain 

 strength and grow. 



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