ecognized the old chief who had
directed the attack upon us. He approached me in a menacing manner, and
uttered some words in the Indian tongue. From his gestures I could guess
at his meaning, and understood that he was threatening me for my
supposed attempt to escape. He then gave some order, and I was instantly
seized and conducted to the foot of a large tree; my guards then bound
me with a lariat and left me to my own reflections.

My first thought was of my wife; and as I had managed to place myself in
a sitting posture against the tree, I was enabled to observe all that
was passing, and to scan closely the groups around the camp fires. A few
moments satisfied me that if in the camp, she was not visible; and left
me a prey to many horrid imaginings.

The savages were mostly seated around the fires, roasting meat over the
embers and eating it greedily, an occupation of which they never seemed
to tire; some were renewing the paint upon their bodies, and the
grotesque striping and mottling showed in fantastic hues in the red and
glaring light; some were smoking curious looking pipes of carved
stones; all were chattering, laughing and gesticulating like so many
children. For a brief period I contemplated this wild scene with
interest; but it soon grew monotonous, and my mind painfully reverted to
my perilous position.

In satisfying the greater desire for water, I had for a time forgotten
my craving for food, but it now returned upon me with redoubled force.
The Indians had evidently forgotten that even prisoners must eat, and I
concluded that it was best to call their attention to my necessities; by
a shout I attracted the attention of one of the warriors who was passing
near me, and when he approached, I succeeded by gestures in making him
understand my wants. Uttering a guttural ugh! and slapping his stomach
he walked away, but returned in a few moments with a huge chunk of half
cooked buffalo meat which he threw down before me, and unbinding my
hands motioned me to eat. I did not need a second invitation, but fell
to at once, and devoured it with such voracity, that my Indian friend
seemed both astonished and amused. When I had finished he brought me
water in a gourd, and again securing my hands, bound me fast to the tree
and left me once more to myself.

Fatigued by the hardships of the last two days, I soon fell asleep, and
knew no more until I was awakened by a rough hand grasping my shoulder,
and on opening