I had escaped for
the moment, but the ice was thin. I should be given short shrift once
my name was known.
The day passed, warm and lovely in the woods and on the water, hideous
and sweltering in the stench of the camp. I saw captives die of heat
and flies, but I could do nothing. My men took cue from me, and we all
laughed and chaffered. I even took a turn at spear throwing, but was
too discreet to win. I gained some good-will, perhaps, but nothing
more, and when the stars came out that night I ground my teeth to think
of how little I had accomplished, and of the slender opportunity ahead.
But the next morning I saw a straw to grasp. Up to that time we had
been left to the guardianship of all the camp, but the second day I saw
that the huge brave to whom I was tied at night followed me
incessantly. I watched, and saw that my men had similar attendants.
This was a gain, as I said to Labarthe. I did not try to have
connected speech with the men, but by saying a word at a time as we
passed we could patch together a few sentences.
From that on I gave the day to winning my special jailer. He was an
intelligent Indian and inclined to be good-humored. I amused him, and
when I took a net and motioned that we go to the swamp to fish he
grunted and agreed.
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