of the blood of a fellow-creature? The thought chilled me with horror.
I dashed the stick to the ground. It was instantly picked up by one of
his three sons, whom the noise of the scuffle had now brought all up;
brandishing it aloft, he aimed a blow at my head, which I parried with
my arm, the limb dropping senseless to my side. My men, however, were
now on the spot to defend me, and a fierce scuffle took place between
them and the Indian's sons. Had they been the stronger party on this
occasion, my fur-trading career would have terminated that morning.
They, however, got a sound drubbing; while their wretched father, who
had been the cause of the disturbance, lay unheeded and unconscious on
the spot where he had fallen, not exhibiting the least sign of life.

A place of temporary accommodation being prepared by his family, he
was borne thither on a blanket, and I retired to my quarters in a
state of mind not easy to be described. Soon after, the interpreter
came in with a message from the Indians, entreating me to come and
advise with them touching the manner in which they should dispose of
their father's body. I went, and just as I stepped within the camp, to
the astonishment of all present, the dead man sprang upon his feet.
Seeing me at his side, he exclaimed, "You shall have cause to repent
this!" The words were scarcely out of his mouth, when he sank down
again, and for a period of six weeks after he remained as helpless as
an infant. He was subsequently carried down to the Lake of Two
Mountains, where he recovered from the effects of this castigation, to
die, two years after, in a fit of drunkenness.




CHAPTER X.