mind, and I
regretted I had not died during my unconsciousness; for I thought that
the weakness I felt was an effect of the poison, and that I should have
to undergo an awful lingering death. Yet all around me, nature was
smiling. Thousands of birds were singing their morning concert, and, at
a short distance, the low and soft murmuring of the stream reminded me
of my excessive thirst. Alas! well hath the Italian bard sung,--

"Nessun maggior dolore
Che riccordarsi del tempo felice
Nella miseria!"--DANTE.

As I lay and reflected upon my utter helplessness, again my heart
swelled and my tears flowed freely. Thirst, however, gave me the courage
which the freshness and beauty of nature had not been able to inspire me
with. I thought of attempting to rise to fetch some water; but first I
slowly passed my hand down my thigh, to feel my knee. I thought the
inflammation would have rendered it as thick as my waist. My hand was
upon my knee, and so sudden was the shock that my heart ceased to beat.
Joy can be most painful; for I felt an acute pang through my breast, as
from a blow of a dagger. When I moved my finger across the cap of my
knee, it was quite free from inflammation, and perfectly sound. Again
there was a reaction. "Ay," thought I, "'tis all on the ankle. How can I
escape? Is not the poison a deadly one?" I dared not throw away the
blanket and investigate further. I felt weaker and weaker, and again
covered my head to sleep.

I did sleep, and when I awoke this time I felt myself a little
invigorated, though my lips and tongue were quite parched. I remembered
everything; down my hand slided; I could not reach my ankle, so I put up
my knee. I removed the scarf and the poultice of master weed. My
handkerchief was full of a dried, green, glutinous matter, and the
wounds looked clean. Joy gave me strength. I went to the stream, drank
plentifully, and washed. I still felt very feverish; and, although I was
safe from the immediate effects of the poison, I knew that I had yet to
suffer. Grateful to Heaven for my preservation, I saddled my faithful
companion, and, wrapping myself closely in my buffalo-hide, I set off to
the Comanche camp. My senses had left me before I arrived there. They
found me on the ground, and my horse standing by me.

Fifteen days afterwards I awoke to consciousness, a weak and emaciated
being. During this whole time I had been raving under a cerebral fever,
death hovering