rd. I saw no more. I only felt that the horse
had made a desperate plunge, and soon afterwards there was the sound of
water in my ears, and instead of the violent movements of the galloping
horse I felt myself borne smoothly forward. Then I was lifted in the
strong arms of the hunter and placed on the ground. I opened my eyes,
and found myself seated on a narrow strand, on the opposite side of a
river, with a high bank rising above my head. Across the stream the
fire raged furiously, devouring the trees which fringed its shores;
while close above our heads hung a black canopy of smoke, though a cool
current of air, which blew up the stream, enabled me to breathe freely.
The hunter, holding the bridle of his horse, was seated by my side.

"`We have done it, friend,' he said. `I knew we should. It's not the
first time I have had to ride for my life; but I never had a harder
gallop, that I'll allow. The Dacotahs will have had a narrow escape if
they managed to get clear. Let me look to your hurts. You are hungry,
it may be.'

"`Water, water,' were the only words I could utter. He produced a
leathern cup from his ample pouch, and, filling it with water, poured
the contents down my throat. I felt as if I could have drunk the stream
dry, but he would give me no more.

"`Wait a bit; you shall soon have another draught,' he said. `And now
let me see to your hurts.' He brought more water, and having bathed my
wounds, bound them skilfully up with a handkerchief which I fortunately
had in my pocket. After I had taken another draught of water, I quickly
began to revive under his careful treatment. When he thought that I had
sufficiently recovered to be removed, he bore me up a bank, and then led
his horse round another way up to where I lay. He carried me on till we
reached a wood near a stream. Here, finding from my weak state that I
was unable to travel further, he built a hut and tended me with the
greatest care till I had recovered sufficiently to sit on horseback. He
often, I found, deprived himself of food that I might be amply supplied.
As soon as I was able to bear the journey he placed me on the horse,
and walking by my side, we set out for the fort. We had many weary
leagues to go, and frequently we fell in with traces of the savage and
treacherous Sioux or Dacotahs, evidently out on expeditions against the
Crees. Occasionally, to avoid our foes, we had to remain in concealment
for several days toge