d a canoe to my rescue, and they carried me to
a warm lodge. I remember that I bandied words with them as they
carried me. They made sport to see me naked, for on my former visit I
had rebuked them severely on that score. But they were tender of my
shoulder.

The time for the next few hours--indeed for the night--is confused. My
shoulder was dressed and bound with herbs, and I was laid on a bed of
rushes. Outchipouac, the Malhominis war chief, knew from former
acquaintance with me that I had prejudices and would not lie where it
was not clean, and so he humored me and gave orders that the rushes be
freshly cut. By this I knew that he had not only respect for me, but
something that was like affection, since savages are indolent and
intolerant, and will not bestir themselves for Europeans unless they
are unwontedly interested. I treasured this kindness. One meets
little that savors of personal regard in the wilderness, and I was ill.

Now, savages know little of the laws of health and abuse what they
know, but in the matter of herbs they can be trusted. The herb drink
which they gave me had virtue, for I woke with my head clear. A gourd
of water stood beside my pallet, and I drained it and called lustily
for another. A man pushed aside the skins and came in. It was Pierre.
Pierre, alive, clothed, and with every hair of his flamingo head
bristling and unharmed! He answered my cry with a huge smile, and then
because he had a gypsy mother in the background of his nature, he put
his great hands before his face, and I saw tears pushing between the
fingers.

That made me fear ill news. I half rose, and would have shaken his
tidings out of him like corn out of a bag. But the pain of my shoulder
sent me back again with my teeth jammed hard together.

"What has happened? Out with it!" I cried.

But Pierre was inarticulate. He came to my pallet and mumbled
something between tears about my shoulder.

--"and the master with no clothes but a dirty Indian's!" he finished.

So I was the cause of this demonstration. I patted his hand.

"But your escape, Pierre? Where are the other men?"

"Master, I do not know."

"But where did you come from? How did you get here? Talk, man!"

"The master does not give me time. I came by land. It is a fine land.
They raise great squashes. Yes, and grain and vegetables! I have
never seen their like in France. If I had a farm here I could have
more than I could eat th