ar, to
the rattling din of which he added the wild and startling yells and jump
of the Indian, and the appalling grunts and snarls of the grizzly bear.
After prancing around us for a short time, he built a small fire, and
threw into it some bits of bluish clay, which turned black when
subjected to the fierce heat; these were then pounded into fine powder.
Taking a sharp-pointed stick, he pricked our chins in semi-circles with
the point of this stick dipped in a lotion of the powdered clay and a
blackish gum, which he poured from a stone vial. The sensation was as if
one was sticking needles into your face. Soon after the operation was
performed the skin began to burn and the punctured portion inflame; it
then became very painful, but an application of the never-failing aloe
soothed the inflammation. This was the ceremony of branding, and I carry
the scar, and will continue to wear it to my latest hours.

Returning to the lodge, I was greeted with jeers and derisive laughter
by the women of my household; the dogs joined in the uproar, barking,
perhaps, because others pointed the finger of scorn at me, and to be in
sympathy with their masters. Even the filthy little children raised
their tiny voices, accompanying their laughter with volleys of stones
and sticks, thus

"Catching at little bits of fun and glee,
That's played on dogs enslaved, by dogs that's free."

CHAPTER XIV.

HOPES AND FEARS--AN ADVENTURE.

For over two years my life was one unvarying monotony; a ceaseless round
of toil. Day after day I was occupied with my duties in the laboratory,
or in gathering roots and herbs for the preparation of the medicine.

The daily life of the village presented a wearying sameness after I had
become accustomed to its more novel peculiarities. There was little of
excitement or interest in my surroundings. At first the arrival and
departure of war parties, or the bands, who at regular intervals went
forth to hunt, or to steal horses, attracted much of my attention; but
eventually all these became tiresome; for when you have seen one of
these gatherings, you have seen all, so little do they differ.

Many times I accompanied Wakometkla in his trips beyond the valley, in
search of those ingredients for his medicine, which could not be
procured within its limits. I had not yet abandoned the idea of escape,
should an opportunity offer, and I had hoped that in those expeditions
beyond the valley, I might find