ster me and so it turned out.

On the third day she took down a bow and arrows and made a sign to me to
go out, and, I presumed, bring back food; and as there was nothing in
the house I thought the request reasonable. I therefore went out of the
wigwam and found that many of the young men were going out on a
hunting-party, and that I was to join them. We set off and travelled
for six hours before we came to the hunting-ground, and as the deer
passed me I thought of Whyna and my hunting excursions with her. I was,
however, fortunate, and killed two deer, much to the surprise of the
Indians, who thought a white man could not use a bow and arrows, and I
rose very much in their estimation in consequence. The deer was cut up,
and we hung upon branches what we could not carry.

We did not go home that night, but feasted over a large fire. The next
morning we all carried home our loads, and mine was as large as any of
the others, if not larger; neither did I flag on the way, for I was
naturally very strong and active, and had lately been inured to fatigue.
When we arrived, the squaws and men among the others were despatched
for the remainder of the venison. I now went out every day by myself
and practised with my bow, till I had become more expert, for I wanted
practice. I had no musket, but I had a tomahawk and a long knife. I
began to pick up a few words of the language, and by means of the
interpreter I gained them very fast. Before I had been three months
with the Indians I had acquired their confidence and respect. They
found that I was expert, and able to gain my own livelihood, and I may
add that before I had been three months I had also mastered my wife.
When she found that I would not submit to her caresses, she was very
indignant and very violent, but I immediately knocked her down, and beat
her unmercifully. This brought her to her senses, and after that I
treated her as my slave with great rigour, and as she was a notorious
scold the Indians liked me all the better for it.

You may think that this was not fair treatment towards a woman who had
saved my life; but she only saved it for her own purposes, and would
have worn my ears, as well as my companion's, if I had not killed her
husband. The fact is, I had no alternative; I must have either treated
her kindly and submitted to her nauseous endearments, or have kept her
at a respectful distance by severity, and I hardly need say that I
preferred the la