I stood for a moment hesitating whether I should strike him while down, but had little time to deliberate,—­the savage was again on his legs.  He rushed towards a gun that stood against a fur-press hard by; I instantly comprehended his intention, and finding a stick at hand, in the twinkling of an eye, I struck him a blow that laid him senseless on the ground.  Being scarcely aware of what I was doing, I was about to repeat the blow, when I found the uplifted weapon seized from behind.  It was Primeau, my interpreter, who addressed me in a soothing tone, telling me I had already “done for” the Indian.

This startling announcement restored me to reason.  Was I indeed guilty 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.

PERE DUCHAMP—­MR. S.’s INSTRUCTIONS—­UNSUCCESSFUL—­TRADING EXCURSION—­DIFFICULTIES OF THE JOURNEY—­LOSE OUR WAY—­PROVISIONS FAIL—­REACH THE POST—­VISIT TO AN ALGONQUIN CHIEF—­HIS ABUSIVE TREATMENT—­SUCCESS.