e rum. I told him he should have none from me. "But I
must have some." "Then you shall go elsewhere for it;" and without
more ado, I turned him out, pushing him with some violence from the
door. He fell on his face on the platform that ran in front of the
building, and leaving him there to recover his footing at leisure, I
returned towards the dwelling-house; but had scarcely reached the end
of the platform, when the yell of defiance, "Hee-eep, hoo-aw!"
resounded in my ears. I instantly wheeled round, and found myself face
to face with the Indian. The old villain attempted to collar me, but,
enraged to madness, I now grappled with him, and with all my might
hurled him from the platform to the ground.

I stood for a moment hesitating whether I should strike him while
down, but had little time to deliberate,--the savage was again on his
legs. He rushed towards a gun that stood against a fur-press hard
by; I instantly comprehended his intention, and finding a stick at
hand, in the twinkling of an eye, I struck him a blow that laid him
senseless on the ground. Being scarcely aware of what I was doing, I
was about to repeat the blow, when I found the uplifted weapon seized
from behind. It was Primeau, my interpreter, who addressed me in a
soothing tone, telling me I had already "done for" the Indian.

This startling announcement restored me to reason. Was I indeed guilty
of the blood of a fellow-creature? The thought chilled me with horror.
I dashed the stick to the ground. It was instantly picked up by one of
his three sons, whom the noise of the scuffle had now brought all up;
brandishing it aloft, he aimed a blow at my head, which I parried with
my arm, the limb dropping senseless to my side. My men, however, were
now on the spot to defend me, and a fierce scuffle took place between
them and the Indian's sons. Had they been the stronger party on this
occasion, my fur-trading career would have terminated that morning.
They, however, got a sound drubbing; while their wretched father, who
had been the cause of the disturbance, lay unheeded and unconscious on
the spot where he had fallen, not exhibiting the least sign of life.

A place of temporary accommodation being prepared by his family, he
was borne thither on a blanket, and I retired to my quarters in a
state of mind not easy to be described. Soon after, the interpreter
came in with a message from the Indians, entreating me to come and
advise with them touching the ma