.OTk0.NjQ0ODc

8 partly open, and the muscles of the body, though in apparent repose, were rigid as stone — Nor did it escape me that the rifle stock was at his side, within grasp, and the knife loosed in the sheath — Though I confess that I might have been better pleased with other guest than a Pottawatomie, particularly after my friend Peshigo’s discription, yet I made up my mind to enter, without any appearance of distrust; In throwing aside the deerskin which served as door, I entered at once, with the usual Indian salutation of howgh — howgh — and proceeded to disencumber myself of my rifle & pouch, during which the Indian relapsed into a perfectly indifferent posture.

When I had taken off my wet leggings and moccasins, I sat down opposite to my dusky guest, and had more leisure to observe him. His cheeks I observed were fallen in and his whole face painfully attenuated, his long body too appeared gaunt & half famished which indeed I found was literally the case. He had actually been three days without food for although he had seen many deer, his rifle was so out of order that he could not get it off. Having seen my tracks in the snow, he followed them to the shanty, but though venison was hanging from the roof, and he was famished for food, he had waited ‘til my arrival, which he said he was certain of, because I had left my blanket behind me, before he satisfied his hunger. in pencil X not the custom of the woods.

I soon had a pot on the fire with some choice pieces of venison, which the poor fellow watched like a famished wolf. He had neither pipe nor tobacco, and whilst the meat was boiling, I gave him a pipe crossed out: of tobacco which he greedily devoured. The hot venison broth soon restored him, and after having done ample justice to the tender meat, he lit his pipe and we chatted, as well as my imperfect knowledge of the language allowed me ‘til late. He told me that many of his people were hunting in the woods, but the weather had been so unfavorable, that they had been very unsuccessful, and many were almost starving. He himself had been out for weeks, but had killed nothing but a few squirrels &c and crossed out: litterly had subsisted entirely of what few nuts & acorns he could find in the woods.