ed all hope of that nature, or resigned myself placidly to
my fate. But I was not long in discovering that without a good horse, a
supply of provisions, and some weapons of offense or defense, any such
idea was entirely futile. The valley was of itself a prison, for it had
neither entrance nor exit, except at its two extremities. The one by
which I had entered I have already described in a previous chapter, and
will not weary the reader by repeating it.

The pass at the western end of the valley was simply a narrow canyon cut
through the mountain, during centuries perhaps, by the action of water;
its precipitous walls rose to the height of over two thousand feet, and
in its gloomy recesses it was always twilight; its length was nearly a
mile; and at its outer extremity it debouched upon a barren plain. At
each end a guard of two men was constantly posted, relieving each other
at regular intervals, and being changed every third day. To pass these
vigilant sentinels, afoot and unarmed, was plainly impossible; and I
soon banished the idea from my mind.

I had noticed that WAKOMETKLA sometimes left the village and
was absent for two or three days, returning laden with various herbs and
plant, freshly gathered. I concluded from this that they were of species
which did not grow in the valley, and to procure which he was obliged to
ascend the various mountain ranges that barred my vision in every
direction. I was anxious to accompany him on some one of these
expeditions, thinking that I might thereby gain an opportunity for
flight; but many long and weary months were to pass before I was to be
granted that privilege. My life at this time was monotonous in the
extreme; and so severe was the labor required of me, that I was
frequently too tired even to think.

In his trips to the borders of the valley in search of the materials for
his medicines, WAKOMETKLA often took me with him, and by these
means I gradually became familiar with many of the ingredients used. It
was a source of never-ending wonder to me that this untutored savage
should have been able to discover and prepare so wonderful a remedy as I
found it to be. I had many opportunities of observing its effects upon
the Indians; for the Camanches, although naturally a hardy race, partly
from their mode of life, and partly from the fact that few of them are
of pure Indian blood, are subject to very many of the same ailments that
afflict more civilized communities.

As