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63 in search of the surgeon, who happened to be one of the party, my father and mother, in the mean time, trying to staunch the flow of blood, and bind up the wound. On the arrival of the surgeon, he pronounced it a dangerous wound, and that it must be sewed up immediately. For this purpose an old rusty needle and coarse thread only could be found. Up to this time I had looked on with indifference and wondered why they made so much fuss over so trifling an affair; but when they laid me out on the bench and the operation of sewing up commenced I changed my mind and bellowed lustily, for it was very painful, while the cut has given me no inconvenience in that way. The event, however, seat us all back to the fort instanter, and for six weeks I was unable to move about, and for three more I had to go upon crutches.

  Shortly after getting well I played truant in order to accompany another party to the lake, and set the whole garrison in an uproar by my unexpected absence, and my dear mother in a fever of apprehension that I had at last met death in some way. On my return my father confined me closely in my room and fed me on bread and water for a week. This was the second and the last time he ever punished me.
  Not long after this my playmate and foster brother, John Tully, cut his ankle while splitting wood, and as it did not terminate as hap-cut word