EPISODES 227 



approach of civilized strangers (a circumstance whicli in 

 some countries is considered as evincing the apathy of 

 their character), I addressed him in French, a language 

 not infrequently partially known to the people in that 

 neighborhood. He raised his head, pointed to one of 

 his eyes with his finger, and gave me a significant glance 

 with the other. His face was covered with blood. The 

 fact was that an hour before this, as he was in the act of 

 discharging an arrow at a Raccoon in the top of a tree, the 

 arrow had split upon the cord, and sprung back with such 

 violence into his right eye as to destroy it forever. 



Feeling hungry, I inquired what sort of fare I might 

 expect. Such a thing as a bed was not to be seen, but 

 many large untanned Bear and Buffalo hides lay piled in 

 a corner. I drew a fine time-piece from my breast, and 

 told the woman that it was late, and that I was fatigued. 

 She had espied my watch, the richness of which seemed 

 to operate upon her feelings with electric quickness. She 

 told me there was plenty of venison and jerked buffalo 

 meat, and that on removing the ashes I should find a 

 cake. But my watch had struck her fancy, and her curi- 

 osity had to be gratified by an immediate sight of it. I 

 took off the gold chain that secured it, from around my 

 neck, and presented it to her; she was all ecstasy, spoke 

 of its beauty, asked me its value, and put the chain round 

 her brawny neck, saying how happy the possession of 

 such a watch would make her. Thoughtless, and as I 

 fancied myself in so retired a spot secure, I paid little 

 attention to her talk or her movements. I helped my 

 dog to a good supper of venison, and was not long in 

 satisfying the demands of my own appetite. 



The Indian rose from his seat, as if in extreme suffer- 

 ing. He passed and repassed me several times, and once 

 pinched me on the side so violently that the pain nearly 

 brought forth an exclamation of anger. I looked at him. 

 His eye met mine, but his look was so forbidding that it 



