Life in Patagonia. 103 



the side they had started from and give himself up 

 to the Indians. Naturally they made no objection, 

 being unable to help him ; and so Damian left them, 

 and when the Indians saw him approaching they got 

 off their horses and came down to the margin, their 

 lances in their hands. Of course Damian knew 

 right well that savages seldom burden themselves 

 with a male captive when they happen to be out on 

 the war-path ; but he was a clever boy, and though 

 death by steel was more painful than death by 

 drowning, there was still a faint chance that his 

 captors might have compassion on him. He began, 

 in fact, to appeal to their mercy from the moment 

 he abandoned his companions. " Indians ! friends ! 

 brothers ! " he shouted aloud from the water. " Do 

 not kill me : in heart I am an Indian like one of 

 yourselves, and no Christian. My skin is white, I 

 know ; but I hate my own race, to escape from 

 them has always been my one desire. To live with 

 the Indians I love, in the desert, that is the only 

 wish of my heart. Spare me, brothers, take me 

 with you, and I will serve you all my life. Let me 

 live with you, hunt with you, fight with you 

 especially against the hated Christians." 



In the middle of the river Marcos lifted up his 

 face and laughed hoarsely to hear this eloquent 

 address ; though they expected to see poor Damian 

 thrust through with spears the very next moment, he 

 could not help laughing. They watched him arrive, 

 still loudly crying out for mercy, astonishing them 

 very much with his oratorical powers, for Damian 



